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Published on: November 12, 2015

Topical voriconazole as a novel treatment for fungal keratitis

William Sponsel1, Nancy Chen, Demi Dang

  • 1The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, USA.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
|December 27, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Topical voriconazole effectively treats experimental fungal keratitis caused by Paecilomyces lilacinus in rabbits. This antifungal agent demonstrated significant reduction in lesion size and corneal penetration.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Mycology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Paecilomyces lilacinus is a fungal pathogen causing keratitis, often resistant to conventional antifungals like amphotericin B.
  • Fungal keratitis can lead to severe vision impairment and is challenging to treat due to antifungal resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of topical voriconazole for treating experimental Paecilomyces lilacinus keratitis in a rabbit model.
  • To assess the penetration of voriconazole into corneal tissues following topical administration.

Main Methods:

  • Experimental fungal keratitis was induced in rabbit eyes using Paecilomyces lilacinus.
  • One group of rabbits received topical voriconazole treatment starting three days post-infection.
  • Infection control eyes and drug control (uninfected) eyes were used for comparison.

Main Results:

  • Voriconazole treatment significantly reduced keratitis lesion size compared to untreated controls.
  • Histopathological examination revealed the absence of fungal hyphal masses in voriconazole-treated eyes.
  • Voriconazole was detected in all ocular tissues of treated eyes, indicating good penetration.

Conclusions:

  • Topical voriconazole is an effective therapeutic agent for experimental Paecilomyces lilacinus keratitis.
  • Voriconazole demonstrates significant corneal penetration, supporting its use in treating deep fungal infections of the eye.

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