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Mycotic keratitis: susceptibility to antiseptic agents

M J Martin1, M R Rahman, G J Johnson

  • 1International Centre for Eye Health, Institute of Ophthalmology, Bath St., London, UK.

International Ophthalmology
|January 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Oculomycosis treatment is challenging in developing nations. Chlorhexidine demonstrated efficacy against fungal keratitis in a pilot study, suggesting its potential as an accessible first-line antifungal agent.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Oculomycosis presents a significant health challenge, particularly in developing countries due to limited access and high costs of specific antifungal medications.
  • Antiseptic agents offer a potential alternative for treating fungal eye infections when standard antifungals are unavailable.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of antiseptic agents as alternatives for treating oculomycosis.
  • To evaluate chlorhexidine, povidone iodine, propamidine, and polyhexamethylenebiguanide against fungal isolates and compare their effectiveness with econazole.

Main Methods:

  • Fungal isolates from Indian and Ghanaian patients were tested against antiseptics and econazole using an in vitro agar diffusion method.
  • A pilot clinical study in India assessed the efficacy of chlorhexidine and econazole in treating fungal corneal ulcers.

Main Results:

  • In vitro, chlorhexidine exhibited a dose-dependent response, povidone iodine was effective at all concentrations, and econazole showed the highest efficacy.
  • Clinically, both chlorhexidine and econazole were effective for fungal corneal ulcers, whereas povidone iodine was ineffective.

Conclusions:

  • Chlorhexidine demonstrates promising efficacy for fungal keratitis, particularly in resource-limited settings.
  • Chlorhexidine may serve as a valuable and accessible first-line treatment option for fungal keratitis when specific antifungals are not readily available.

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