Case Report: Alternaria alternata keratitis

Alternaria spp are ubiquitous pigmented filamentous fungi that can cause opportunistic human infections. These molds can be found in healthy individuals and the most frequently observed clinical manifestations are skin infections, ocular mycosis, rhinosinusitis, among others. Immunosuppression (both local and systemic) as well as contact or trauma with contaminated matter are important risk and predisposing factors for ocular mycosis. Accurate diagnosis with microscopy and culture is crucial since infections by filamentous fungi are sight-threatening, and clinically indistinguishable from bacterial disease. In general terms, conventional antifungal drugs are effective.

We report a case of Alternaria alternata keratitis after ocular trauma with biological material in a 44-year-old man's functional single eye, which had a good clinical and functional evolution after topical therapy with voriconazole.

This case accounts the importance of thinking about other etiological diagnoses in infectious keratitis refractory to the established therapy and with a history of trauma with biological material.