The Changing Spectrum of Fungal Keratitis in South Florida

Dematiaceous fungal keratitis presented as a foreign body-like isolated pigmented corneal plaque: a case report

“…[1][2][3][4][5] Here we report an unusual case of dematiaceous fungal keratitis caused by Wangiella dermatitidis presenting as a foreign body-like corneal pigmented plaque.…”

Acremonium keratitis in a patient with herpetic neurotrophic corneal disease

“…Acremonium Link ex Fries 1821 (previously known as Cephalosporium) is an uncommon case of mycotic keratitis (Srinivasan et al 1991;Forster 1994;Rosa et al 1994). Fincher et al (1991) made a review of Acremonium keratitis reported in the literature and found 17 cases between 1965 and 1991.…”

“…Firstly, the patient was treated with topical corticosteroids which are well known to enhance fungal infections (Stern & Buttross 1991;O'Day et al 1991). In a series in South Florida (Rosa et al 1994) topical corticosteroids were the fourth risk factor for fungal keratitis in order of decreasing frequency of occurrence after trauma, chronic topical medication and diabetes mellitus. The fifth risk factor was extended wear or bandage soft contact lenses.…”

“…Our patient was wearing a therapeutic bandage contact lens. Fungal infections appear to develop more commonly in association with soft lenses, especially aphakic extended wear and therapeutic lenses (Rosa et al 1994;Wilhelmus et al 1988). Yamamoto et al in 1979 reported a case of Acremonium keratitis in a patient who wore a therapeutic bandage contact lens for a metaherpetic corneal epithelial erosion.…”

“…While Fusarium is the most common cause in the southern United States, Candida and Aspergillus are the most frequent isolates in northern climates and Aspergillus is the most important cause in South India. Filamentous fungal infections are more likely to occur after corneal trauma (vegetable), while yeasts usually invade corneas compromised by surface pathology (Forster 1994;Rosa et al 1994).…”