OBJETIVO: Analisar a freqüência e a etiologia das doenças oculares micóticas diagnosticadas por cultura no Laboratório de Doenças Externas Oculares da Universidade Federal de São Paulo (LOFT-UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brasil e os fatores associados às ceratites fúngicas. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo de 14.391 solicitações de exames laboratoriais de doenças infecciosas oculares no período compreendido entre 1975 e maio de 2003. Nas comprovações por cultura de micoses oculares foram observados o tipo morfológico do fungo isolado, o sexo e a idade dos pacientes, o local de acometimento da infecção ocular, os anos de identificação e os fatores associados nos casos de ceratite fúngica, conforme o agente etiológico identificado. Considerou-se significante p<0,05. RESULTADOS: Foram verificadas 296 (2,05%) comprovações por cultura de infecção ocular micótica, sendo 265 (89,5%) identificadas como agente etiológico de ceratites, 27 de infecções intra-oculares (9,1%) e 4 de outros locais (1,3%). Fungos filamentosos foram identificados em 233 casos (78,7%), sendo 74,7% dos pacientes do sexo masculino (n=174) e 25,3% do sexo feminino (n=59). Em 63 exames (21,3%) foram isolados fungos leveduriformes, sendo 49,2% dos casos do sexo masculino (n=31) e 50,8% do sexo feminino (n=32).As idades variaram entre 2 e 99 anos no grupo dos fungos filamentosos e entre 14 e 88 anos no grupo dos fungos leveduriformes. Os fungos filamentosos mais freqüentemente encontrados foram Fusarium (n=137 ou 58,8%), Aspergillus (n=28 ou 12,0%) e Penicillium (n=12 ou 5,2%). Entre as leveduras, o gênero mais freqüente foi a Candida (n=59 ou 93,7%). Em relação às ceratites, 95,1% das solicitações apresentadas tiveram pelo menos um fator associado. Trauma ocular foi significativamente associado às ceratites por fungos filamentosos (p=0,0002); e, cirurgias (p=0,0002), doenças oculares prévias (p=0,0002) e sistêmicas (p=0,0002) às infecções por fungos leveduriformes. O uso de antibióticos tópicos mostrou associação com infecção por fungos filamentosos, com menor significância estatística (p=0,0224). CONCLUSÕES: A análise laboratorial mostrou predomínio de infecções por fungos filamentosos sobre os leveduriformes, destacando-se a ceratite micótica como a principal doença verificada. A maioria das ceratites fúngicas apresentou pelo menos um fator associado.

PURPOSE: To analyze the frequency and the etiology of mycotic infectious eye diseases diagnosed by culture at the Ocular Diseases Laboratory of the Federal University of São Paulo (LOFT-UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil, and the factors associated with fungal keratitis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the 14,391 laboratory requests regarding infectious eye diseases between 1975 and May 2003. For the fungal culture proven examinations we observed the morphologic type of the isolated fungus, the gender and age of the patient, the site of ocular involvement, the year of identification, and the factors associated with keratitis cases, according to the identified etiologic agent. Results were considered significant if p<0.05. RESULTS: We verified 296 (2.05%) ocular mycosis cases with 265 keratitis (89.5%), 27 intraocular infections (9.1%), and 4 infections at other sites (1.3%). Filamentous fungi were isolated in 233 cases (78.7%) 74.7% being male (n=174) and 25.3% female (n=59). Yeasts were isolated in 63 cases (21.3%) 49.2% being male (n=31) and 50.8% female (n=32). Ages varied between 2 and 99 years in the filamentous fungi group and between 14 and 88 years in the yeast group. The most frequently found etiologic agents of the filamentous fungi isolations were Fusarium (n=137; 58.8%), Aspergillus (n=28; 12.0%), and Penicillium (n=12; 5.2%); and in yeasts, Candida (n=59; 93.7%). Regarding keratitis, 95.1% had at least one associated factor. Ocular trauma was significantly associated with filamentous fungi keratitis (p=0.0002); and previous surgeries (p=0.0002), ocular (p=0.0002) and systemic diseases (p=0.0002) with yeast keratitis. The use of topic antibiotics showed association with filamentous fungi keratitis, at a lower statistical significance (p=0.0224). CONCLUSIONS: Laboratory analysis showed predominance of filamentous fungi over the yeasts, and keratitis was the main observed ocular infection. Fungal keratitis involved at least one associated factor in most cases.

From March 1999 to March 2000, we conducted a prospective multicenter study of candidemia involving five tertiary care hospitals from four countries in Latin America. Yeast isolates were identified by classical methods and the antifungal susceptibility profile was determined according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards microbroth assay method. During a 12 month-period we were able to collect a total of 103 bloodstream isolates of Candida spp. C. albicans was the most frequently isolated species accounting for 42% of all isolates. Non-albicans Candida species strains accounted for 58% of all episodes of candidemia and were mostly represented by C. tropicalis (24.2%) and C. parapsilosis (21.3%). It is noteworthy that we were able to identify two cases of C. lusitaniae from different institutions. In our casuistic, non-albicans Candida species isolates related to candidemic episodes were susceptible to fluconazole. Continuously surveillance programs are needed in order to identify possible changes in the species distribution and antifungal susceptibility patterns of yeasts that may occurs after increasing the use of azoles in Latin American hospitals.