Fungal keratitis
Keratomycosis | |
---|---|
Other names | Mycotic keratitis, keratomycosis, oculomycosis |
Differential diagnosis | Other corneal infections[1] |
Frequency | >1 million/year, M>F[1] |
Fungal keratitis is a
It is caused by
Up to 70 differentFungal keratitis has a worldwide distribution, but is more common in the tropics.[1] Around 1 million people become blind every year due to fungal keratitis.[4] Theodor Leber first described a case of fungal keratitis caused by Aspergillus in 1879.[5]
Signs and symptoms
The symptoms of fungal keratitis typically emerge over 5-10 days and present with a painful eye, blurred vision, and redness of eye.[1] There is increased sensitivity to light, and excessive tears or discharge.[1] The symptoms are markedly less as compared to a similar bacterial ulcer.[1] Symptoms may be noted to persist after contact lenses are removed, or following antibiotic treatment.[citation needed]
Signs: The eyelids and adnexa involved shows edema and redness, conjunctiva is chemosed. Ulcer may be present. It is a dry looking corneal ulcer with satellite lesions in the surrounding cornea. Usually associated with fungal ulcer is
Causes
Fungal keratitis has been reported to be caused by more than 70 different
Other fungus causes; such as Phaeoisaria clematidis was found in 2000.[6] Then Pleurothecium recurvatum (formerly Carpoligna pleurothecii) was found in 2010.[7]
Pathophysiology
The precipitating event for fungal keratitis is trauma with a vegetable / organic matter. A thorn injury, or in agriculture workers, trauma with a wheat plant while cutting the harvest is typical. This implants the fungus directly in the cornea. The fungus grows slowly in the cornea and proliferates to involve the anterior and posterior stromal layers. The fungus can break through the descemet's membrane and pass into the anterior chamber. The patient presents a few days or weeks later with fungal keratitis.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is made by an ophthalmologist/optometrist correlating typical history, symptoms and signs. Many times it may be missed and misdiagnosed as bacterial ulcer. A definitive diagnosis is established only after a positive culture report (lactophenol cotton blue, calcoflour medium), typically taking a week, from the corneal scraping. Recent advances have been made in PCR ref 3./immunologic tests which can give a much quicker result.
Classification
Infectious keratitis can be bacterial, fungal, viral, or protozoal. Remarkable differences in presentation of the patient allows presumptive diagnosis by the eye care professional, helping in institution of appropriate anti-infective therapy.
Prevention
Prevention of trauma with vegetable / organic matter, particularly in agricultural workers while harvesting can reduce the incidence of fungal keratitis. Wearing of broad protective glasses with side shields is recommended for people at risk for such injuries.
Treatment
A presumptive diagnosis of fungal keratitis requires immediate empirical therapy. Natamycin ophthalmic suspension is the drug of choice for filamentous fungal infection. Fluconazole ophthalmic solution is recommended for Candida infection of the cornea. Amphotericin B eye drops may be required for non-responding cases, but can be quite toxic and requires expert pharmacist for preparation. Other medications have also been tried with moderate success. An updated Cochrane Review published in 2015 looking at the best treatment for fungal keratitis could not draw any conclusions as the studies included used different medications. [8] The review did find that "people receiving natamycin were less likely to develop a hole in their cornea and need a transplant."
Prognosis
The infection typically takes a long time to heal, since the fungus itself is slow growing. Corneal perforation can occur in patients with untreated or partially treated infectious keratitis and requires surgical intervention in the form of corneal transplantation.
Epidemiology
This disease is quite common in the tropics and with large agrarian population. India has a high number of cases with fungal keratitis, but poor reporting system prevents accurate data collection. Florida in US regularly reports cases of fungal keratitis, with Aspergillus and Fusarium spp. as the most common causes.
According to the Global Action Fund for Fungal Infections, every year there are around 1 million cases of blindness due to fungal keratitis.[4]
History
A case of fungal keratitis caused by Aspergillus was first described by Theodor Leber in 1879, in a 54 year old farmer who injured his eye.[5]
Society and culture
The loss of vision with fungal keratitis can be quite disabling in terms of economic impact and social consequences. Many people come with fungal keratitis in the only eye and thus become blind due to the disease. The lack of education and proper eye protection in such cases is evidently responsible for their plight.[citation needed]
Notable cases
Recently, one particular product,
References
- ^ S2CID 226330064.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4051-7056-7.
- ^ "Basics of Fungal Keratitis | Contact Lenses | CDC". www.cdc.gov. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ PMID 32078635.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-429-66455-7.
- ^ Guarro, J.; Vieira, L.A.; De Freitas, D.; Gené, J.; Zaror, L.; Hofling-Lima, A.L.; Fischman, O.; Zorat-Yu, C.; Figueras, M.J. (2000). "Phaeoisaria clematidis as a cause of Keratomycosis". J. Clin. Microbiol. 38: 2434–2437.
- ^ Chew, H.F.; Jungkind, D.L.; Mah, D.Y.; Raber, I.M.; Toll, A.D.; Tokarczyk, M.J.; Cohen, E.J. (April 2010). "Post-traumatic fungal keratitis caused by carpoligna sp". Cornea. 29 (4): 449–452.
- S2CID 40449321.
- ^ "Fusarium Keratitis --- Multiple States, 2006." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. April 10, 2006 / 55(Dispatch);1-2.
- ^ "Bausch & Lomb News". Archived 2006-04-12 at the Wayback Machine Bausch & Lomb. Retrieved. June 2, 2006.