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Polymicrobial keratomycosis in a three-year-old child.
Fulvio Parentin1, Tatiana Liberali, Paolo Perissutti
1Department of Surgery-Ophthalmology Unit, Institute of Child Health 'BURLO GAROFOLO', Trieste, Italy. parentin@burlo.trieste.it
Ocular Immunology and Inflammation
|April 7, 2006
Summary
This case report details a rare polymicrobial fungal keratitis in a child caused by Candida lusitaniae, Candida parapsilosis, and Geotrichum candidum. Combined topical and systemic fluconazole effectively treated this infection, highlighting key risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Fungal keratitis is a serious ocular infection, often associated with trauma and corticosteroid use.
- Polymicrobial fungal keratitis presents unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
Observation:
- A three-year-old child presented with fungal keratitis following vegetable matter eye trauma and prolonged corticosteroid eyedrop use.
- Corneal scraping cultures identified a polymicrobial infection involving Candida lusitaniae, Candida parapsilosis, and Geotrichum candidum.
Findings:
- The patient was treated with topical 0.2% and systemic fluconazole.
- Complete resolution of the corneal lesion was achieved with no recurrence.
- This is the first reported case of fungal keratitis caused by the combination of C. lusitaniae and G. candidum.
Implications:
- Corneal trauma with vegetative matter and indiscriminate corticosteroid use are significant risk factors for developing fungal keratitis.
- Combination therapy with topical and systemic fluconazole is effective for treating this specific polymicrobial fungal keratitis.
- This case expands the understanding of causative agents and effective treatments for polymicrobial fungal keratitis.