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Panophthalmitis due to rhizopus in an AIDS patient: a clinicopathological study

T K Samanta1, J Biswas, L Gopal

  • 1Medical and Vision Research Foundation, YRG Centre for AIDS Research and Education, Chennai, India.

Indian Journal of Ophthalmology
|May 13, 2005
PubMed

Insights

A rare fungal eye infection, Rhizopus panophthalmitis, occurred in an AIDS patient. Histopathology confirmed Rhizopus as the cause of this severe ocular infection.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Ocular opportunistic infections are common in patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
  • Previous reports have documented various eye infections in this immunocompromised population.

Observation:

  • A case of severe panophthalmitis (inflammation of the entire eye) is presented in a patient diagnosed with AIDS.
  • The patient's condition necessitated the evisceration of ocular tissue.

Findings:

  • Histopathologic examination of the eviscerated tissue revealed fungal elements.
  • Microbiologic analysis definitively identified the fungus as Rhizopus species.

Implications:

  • This case highlights Rhizopus as a potential cause of severe, sight-threatening opportunistic infections in AIDS patients.
  • It underscores the importance of considering fungal etiologies in ocular infections within this demographic.
  • Early diagnosis and targeted antifungal therapy are crucial for managing such cases.

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