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Published on: April 19, 2017
Mycotic keratitis due to Aspergillus nomius
Palanisamy Manikandan1, János Varga, Sándor Kocsubé
1Aravind Eye Hospital and Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Avinashi Road, Coimbatore 641 014, Tamilnadu, India.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|August 28, 2009
Summary
This study details the first documented fungal keratitis case caused by Aspergillus nomius, following an ocular injury. Treatment involved antifungal eye drops, ointments, oral medication, and ultimately, a corneal transplant.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Fungal keratitis is a serious eye infection that can lead to vision loss.
- Aspergillus species are common causes of fungal keratitis, but Aspergillus nomius is rarely reported.
- Ocular trauma is a significant risk factor for developing fungal keratitis.
Observation:
- A patient presented with fungal keratitis after a known ocular injury.
- The causative agent was identified as Aspergillus nomius through sequence-based identification.
- Clinical presentation included severe corneal inflammation and ulceration.
Findings:
- Successful treatment involved a combination of topical (natamycin, econazole, itraconazole) and oral (ketoconazole) antifungal agents.
- Despite medical treatment, therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty was required 16 days post-presentation due to disease progression.
- This case highlights Aspergillus nomius as a potential pathogen in fungal keratitis.
Implications:
- This case expands the spectrum of Aspergillus species implicated in human ocular infections.
- Early diagnosis and appropriate antifungal therapy are crucial for managing fungal keratitis.
- Further research is needed to understand the pathogenicity and treatment nuances of Aspergillus nomius ocular infections.
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