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Keratitis due to Chaetomium sp
Jayaraman Kaliamurthy1, Catti Munuswamy Kalavathy, Christadoss Arul Nelson Jesudasan
1Institute of Ophthalmology, Joseph Eye Hospital, Tiruchirapalli 620 001, India.
Case Reports in Ophthalmological Medicine
|May 19, 2012
Summary
A rare case of fungal keratitis caused by Chaetomium species in a 65-year-old woman is described. Prompt treatment with topical natamycin successfully resolved the severe ocular infection.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Fungal keratitis is a significant cause of visual impairment, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions.
- Trauma with vegetative matter is a known risk factor for fungal corneal infections.
Observation:
- A 65-year-old female presented with a corneal ulcer and hypopyon in her right eye following vegetable matter trauma.
- Microscopy revealed septate fungal hyphae, and cultures grew Chaetomium species.
Findings:
- The patient was treated with topical natamycin 5% hourly and cyclopentolate 1% thrice daily.
- After 4 weeks, the hypopyon resolved, epithelial defect healed, stromal infiltration cleared, and visual acuity improved significantly.
Implications:
- This case highlights Chaetomium species as a potential, albeit rare, cause of infectious keratitis.
- Early diagnosis and appropriate antifungal therapy are crucial for managing fungal corneal ulcers and preventing vision loss.
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