Epidemiological Profile of Mycotic Keratitis in a Tertiary Care Center of Iran

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological aspects of keratomycosis in a tertiary care center from northern Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on all consecutive patients clinically suspected to keratomycosis that were ultimately diagnosed by positive fungal culture that admitted to Amir-almomenin hospital in Rasht city, Iran, between ۲۰۱۲ and ۲۰۲۰. The sampling method was census. Reviewing the hospital-recorded files collected the required information. Results: Forty-seven patients were examined in the study that ۵۳.۲% of patients were men. The most common age of disease onset was ۵۰ to ۶۰ years in women and ۶۰ to ۷۰ years in men. Among the population of women, housewives-farmers with the prevalence rate of ۴۵% and among the population of men, those with farm occupation with the prevalence rate of ۵۲% formed the most common occupational subgroups. Most patients (۸۹.۳%) had no history of any ocular surgery or manipulation. Aspergillus was the most frequent pathogen (۲۳.۴%) followed by Penicillium (۱۹.۱%) and Fusarium (۱۷.۰%). History of chronic disorders was also revealed in ۴۴.۶%. The results of smear and culture obtained from the study were as follows: in ۸.۵% of patients as positive smear and positive culture, and in ۹۱.۵% as negative smear and positive culture. Only ۲.۱% used the lens. Conclusion: Ocular trauma in the background of underlying chronic disorders is the most common causal factor for the infection with far less attention to use contact lenses or eye interventions.