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Post-traumatic Scedosporium inflatum endophthalmitis
Alexandra Taylor1, Steven J Wiffen, Christopher J Kennedy
1Department of Ophthalmology, Fremantle Hospital, Western Australia, Australia.
Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology
|March 12, 2002
Summary
This case report details a rare instance of post-traumatic Scedosporium inflatum endophthalmitis in a non-immunocompromised patient. The aggressive fungal infection led to severe vision loss and required eye enucleation despite antifungal resistance.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Endophthalmitis is a severe intraocular inflammation, often caused by bacterial or fungal pathogens.
- Traumatic eye injuries can introduce microorganisms, leading to infection.
- Scedosporium inflatum is a filamentous fungus increasingly recognized as an opportunistic pathogen.
Observation:
- A 57-year-old woman sustained a penetrating corneal injury from a wood chip during household chores.
- The injury resulted in uveal prolapse, lens damage, and intraocular hemorrhages.
- No intraocular foreign body was detected initially.
Findings:
- Delayed-onset, destructive endophthalmitis caused by Scedosporium inflatum developed post-trauma.
- The infection progressed to panophthalmitis and complete loss of light perception.
- In vitro testing revealed the Scedosporium inflatum isolate was resistant to all tested antifungal agents.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for Scedosporium inflatum to cause severe endophthalmitis following seemingly minor penetrating eye trauma.
- The resistance of the isolate to antifungal medications underscores the challenges in managing such infections.
- Increased awareness and prompt diagnosis are crucial for potentially preserving vision in similar cases.