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Treatment of ocular fungal infections with oral fluconazole
J K Luttrull1, W L Wan, B M Kubak
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA.
Purpose:
We treated five patients who had ocular fungal infections with oral fluconazole to determine its safety and effectiveness.
Methods:
We reviewed the case histories of the five patients. One patient had coccidioidomycosis and four had endogenous Candida endophthalmitis.
Results:
The intraocular fungal infection resolved in all patients.
Conclusion:
Fluconazole appears to be a safe and effective antifungal agent that can be administered orally and may be a useful agent for treating some intraocular fungal infections.
Insights
Oral fluconazole effectively treated ocular fungal infections in five patients. This antifungal medication shows promise for managing certain intraocular fungal infections safely.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Ocular fungal infections pose a significant threat to vision.
- Systemic antifungal therapy is crucial for managing endogenous fungal endophthalmitis and other intraocular mycoses.
- Limited data exists on the efficacy of oral fluconazole for specific intraocular fungal infections.
Observation:
- This study evaluated five patients diagnosed with ocular fungal infections.
- One patient presented with coccidioidomycosis, while four had endogenous Candida endophthalmitis.
- All patients received oral fluconazole for their treatment.
Findings:
- Complete resolution of intraocular fungal infections was observed in all five patients.
- Oral administration of fluconazole was well-tolerated, indicating a favorable safety profile.
- The study demonstrates the effectiveness of fluconazole in clearing fungal pathogens from the ocular structures.
Implications:
- Oral fluconazole is a safe and effective therapeutic option for select intraocular fungal infections.
- This finding supports the use of oral fluconazole as a viable treatment strategy, potentially reducing the need for more invasive interventions.
- Further research is warranted to establish definitive treatment protocols and expand the application of oral fluconazole in ophthalmomycology.