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Establishing a Porcine Ex Vivo Cornea Model for Studying Drug Treatments against Bacterial Keratitis
Published on: May 12, 2020
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Overview of Mycotic Keratitis
Alejandro Arboleda1,2, Christopher N Ta3
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
Cornea
|August 5, 2024
Summary
Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for combating keratomycosis, a serious fungal eye infection affecting over a million people annually. Prompt intervention with effective antifungal therapies improves vision outcomes and prevents severe complications like corneal perforation.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Keratomycosis (fungal keratitis) is a significant cause of vision loss, affecting over 1 million individuals globally each year.
- Fungal eye infections often present challenges in diagnosis and treatment, leading to delayed care and increased risk of corneal perforation.
- Effective management hinges on early detection and appropriate antifungal strategies to preserve sight.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current diagnostic techniques for fungal keratitis, including microscopy, molecular methods, and omics-based technologies.
- To evaluate the efficacy of various treatment modalities for fungal keratitis, focusing on topical natamycin and novel interventions.
- To provide insights into clinical trials shaping current management practices for this vision-threatening infection.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical trials and diagnostic techniques for fungal keratitis.
- Analysis of diagnostic methods: corneal scrapings, in vivo confocal microscopy, PCR, and omics technologies.
- Assessment of treatment efficacy: topical antifungals, intrastromal/intracameral injections, photodynamic therapy, and surgery.
Main Results:
- Delayed diagnosis (2-3 weeks) is common, leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes.
- Topical antifungals are the first line of treatment, but penetration and bioavailability can be limited.
- Emerging therapies and surgical interventions are crucial for refractory cases.
Conclusions:
- Timely diagnosis and appropriate antifungal treatment are essential for favorable outcomes in fungal keratitis.
- Topical natamycin remains a key therapy for filamentous fungal keratitis, but alternative and advanced treatments are vital.
- Continued research into diagnostics and therapeutics is necessary to combat the growing threat of keratomycosis worldwide.
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