1/386. Ophthalmic manifestations of allergic fungal sinusitis. PURPOSE: To highlight allergic fungal sinusitis as a cause of ophthalmic and sinus problems by identifying the profile of the patient with allergic fungal sinusitis and presenting a successful treatment approach. methods: Six consecutive cases of patients with ophthalmic manifestations of allergic fungal sinusitis were reviewed. Ophthalmic findings, sinus involvement, mycology, immune response, imaging studies, and treatment were examined. The characteristics of this patient group with ophthalmic manifestations of allergic fungal sinusitis were compared with those of the general group of patients with allergic fungal sinusitis. RESULTS: All six patients had proptosis. One had symptomatic diplopia and one had visual loss. Imaging studies, fungal characterization, and immune profiles were similar to the reported allergic fungal sinusitis population. After treatment there was no recurrence of ophthalmic or sinus symptoms at a mean follow-up of 34 months (range, 8 to 48 months). There were no complications of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Initial diagnosis of allergic fungal sinusitis requires suspicion on the part of the ophthalmologist. Proptosis is the most common ophthalmic sign. Differentiation from invasive forms of fungal sinus disease is crucial, because systemic antifungal medication and extensive surgical tissue debridement are not required in allergic fungal sinusitis. Treatment consists of extirpation of the allergic mucin and fungus, sinus aeration, and systemic and topical corticosteroids. ( info) |
2/386. exophiala (Wangiella) dermatitidis keratitis after keratoplasty. We report the first French case of an intraocular infection due to exophiala (Wangiella) dermatitidis. Two months after a second corneal transplant for congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy, the patient presented with ocular pain and corneal infiltrates leading to the graft rejection. diagnosis was established by positive direct examination and cultures of the same fungus from corneal buttons, iris biopsies and ablated sutures. ( info) |
3/386. rhodotorula sp. infection in corneal interface following lamellar keratoplasty--a case report. PURPOSE: To report an unusual organism causing infection following lamellar keratoplasty. METHOD: Case report. RESULT: Both gram stain smear and culture from the interlamellar bed revealed rhodotorula sp., a red yeast as a causative agent. CONCLUSION: rhodotorula sp. can cause corneal lamellar graft infection. ( info) |
| PURPOSE: To report a patient with vernal keratoconjunctivitis who developed mycotic keratitis in absence of known risk factors. methods: A 17-year-old male suffering from vernal keratoconjunctivitis presented with infective keratitis. The patient had been treated in the past with topical antihistaminics and vasoconstrictors. The patient had not been exposed to topical steroids in 2 years of follow-up. He did not have dry eye or corneal micro or macroerosions prior to the development of infective keratitis. Corneal scrapings were obtained and subjected to KOH wet mount smear, calcofluor and Grams stain as well as bacterial culture sensitivity and fungal culture. RESULTS: Clinical diagnosis of mycotic keratitis in association with vernal conjunctivitis was supported by microbiological investigations. KOH wet mount and calcofluor staining showed presence of filamentous septate hyphae while fungal culture showed growth of aspergillus fumigatus. Antifungal therapy was initiated in the form of topical natamycin 5% suspension to which the patient responded and recovered 6/6 final visual acuity. CONCLUSION: The authors wish to conclude that patients suffering from vernal keratoconjunctivitis, even in the absence of corneal involvement, steroid exposure and trauma, may be at increased risk of developing keratomycosis. ( info) |
5/386. Aspergillus mycetoma in a secondary hydroxyapatite orbital implant: a case report and literature review. OBJECTIVE: The authors describe the first case report of a fungal abscess within a hydroxyapatite orbital implant in a patient who had undergone straightforward secondary hydroxyapatite implant surgery. DESIGN: Case report and literature review. INTERVENTION: Four months postoperatively after pegging and 17 months after original implant placement, chronic discharge and socket irritation became evident. Recurrent pyogenic granulomas were a problem, but no obvious area of dehiscence was present over the implant. The peg and sleeve were removed 31 months after pegging (44 months after original placement of the implant). The pain and discharge did not resolve, and the entire hydroxyapatite orbital implant was removed 45 months after sleeve placement and 58 months after initial implant placement. The pain and discharge settled rapidly. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cultures and histopathology. RESULTS: Results of bacterial cultures were negative. Results of histopathologic examination of the implant disclosed intertrabecular spaces with multiple clusters of organisms consistent with Aspergillus. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent orbital discomfort, discharge, and pyogenic granulomas after hydroxyapatite implantation should cause concern regarding potential implant infection. The authors have now shown that this implant infection could be bacterial or fungal in nature. This is essentially a new form of orbital Aspergillus, that of a chronic infection limited to a hydroxyapatite implant. ( info) |
6/386. Lung cancer, proptosis, and decreased vision. A 48-year-old man presented to the emergency department with a 3-day history of decreased vision in a painful proptotic right eye. The patient was being treated with chemotherapy and radiation for non-small cell lung carcinoma. Examination showed visual acuity of hand motions, decreased motility, and an afferent pupillary defect on the right, consistent with an orbital apex syndrome. neuroimaging revealed "dirty" orbital fat and no paranasal sinus disease. Orbital biopsy initially showed only fibrosis; however, on subsequent biopsies, nonseptate hyphae later identified as mucormycosis was recovered. The patient survived with exenteration and systemic amphotericin b. ( info) |
7/386. Exserohilum rostratum causing keratitis in india. A case of mycotic keratitis due to atypical Exserohilum rostratum is reported in a 42-year-old male with Hansens disease. ( info) |
8/386. Fungal corneal ulcers of onion harvesters in southern taiwan. Fungal corneal ulcers related to agriculture has been reported throughout the world, especially in tropical areas. Most of them were sporadic and had histories of ocular trauma or use of topical corticosteroids and topical antibiotics. Five onion harvesters had fungal corneal ulcers during the same harvest period in Southern taiwan. The authors think that this is the first report of a group occurrence relating to agricultural workers. Although all of the patients improved after medical and surgical management, their vision was greatly decreased. It is suggested that the tropical climate, the harvest procedure, the characteristic monsoon, and lack of eye protection were involved. Therefore, the importance of the eye protection, hygiene education, and improving medical care to reduce the occurrence of fungal corneal ulcer in agriculture workers must be emphasised. ( info) |
9/386. chrysosporium parvum keratomycosis. PURPOSE: To report a case of corneal infection with chrysosporium parvum, a filamentous fungus usually associated with pulmonary infections. methods: A 43-year-old Saudi man had a corneal stromal infiltrate and perforation of his left eye. He was treated with a therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty and topical and systemic antifungal therapy. Corneal scrapings, microbiologic evaluation, and histopathologic examination of the surgical specimen were performed to establish the diagnosis. After the development of recurrent stromal keratitis at the graft-host junction, similar diagnostic and therapeutic maneuvers were performed. RESULTS: Corneal scrapings and histopathologic examination were positive for numerous septate hyphae with endospores, consistent with a diagnosis of filamentous keratomycosis. Microbiologic isolation confirmed the diagnosis of chrysosporium parvum. Similar diagnostic maneuvers for recurrent keratitis produced identical results. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first case of chrysosporium parvum keratomycosis. ( info) |
10/386. Mycotic keratitis due to Curvularia senegalensis and in vitro antifungal susceptibilities of Curvularia spp. A case of mycotic keratitis due to Curvularia senegalensis is reported. This case represents the third known reported infection caused by this rare species. Fungal hyphae were detected in corneal scrapings, and repeated cultures were positive for this fungi. The patient was presumed cured after a corneal transplant and treatment with itraconazole, but the infection recurred and the patient is waiting for a keratoplasty. The in vitro antifungal susceptibilities of the case strain and another 24 strains belonging to seven species of Curvularia were tested for six antifungal agents. With the exception of flucytosine, and occasionally fluconazole, the other drugs assayed (amphotericin b, miconazole, itraconazole, and ketoconazole) were highly effective in vitro. ( info) |