Incidence of Yeasts in Microbial Infected Human Cornea in Minia Governorate, Egypt

A total of 104 patients with microbial infected cornea were tested for yeast infection. Results showed that percentage of yeast infected cornea was 23.08%. Yeast infection in the cornea was more prevailed in rural male patients with age ranged between 40 and 59 years. In spring and summer, yeast infection was dominant. Diabetes was the most common predisposing factor followed by cataract and lens implantation. Ocular trauma, eye pressure, multiple and unknown causes were also effective. Using conventional identification and CHROMagar Candida medium, 25 yeast isolates were assigned into 4 genera and 10 species. Candida albicans was the most prevalent species. Six non-albicans Candida species comprising 63.6% of isolates were also identified. Each C.lusitaniae, C. membranifaciens and C. tropicalis was represented by 12%, whilst C.kefyr and C. parapsilosis each constituted 8%. Each Candida famata, Cryptococcus albidus, Rhodotorula glutinis and Hyphopichia burtonii was represented by single isolate. In conclusion, emergency of non-albicans Candida species including 63.6% of Candida isolates was of obvious concern and further studies are required to evaluate antifungal susceptibility for effective treatment.