Case Report: Vision-Threatening Fungal Keratitis in a Service Member Stationed at Guantanamo Bay.

Fungal keratitis is a major cause of corneal blindness worldwide. Compared to other types of infectious keratitis, fungal keratitis has a relatively poor prognosis because of various factors such as delayed patient presentation and diagnosis. Although associated in earlier studies with poverty and low socioeconomic status, military personnel stationed in tropical and subtropical climates, in low-resource settings, are at risk. Here, we report a case of a 20-year-old active duty contact lens-wearing military service member stationed at Guantanamo Bay who developed a severe vision-threatening fungal keratitis in her left eye. Enhancing health and safety precautions in at-risk settings, maintaining vigilance, and leveraging new imaging modalities will be important to ensure early recognition and treatment.

[Fungal Keratitis Associated with Curvularia lunata: First Case Report from Türkiye]. / Curvularia lunata'ya Bagli Gelisen Fungal Keratit: Türkiye'den Ilk Olgu Raporu.

Fungal keratitis is a medical emergency that is among the most common causes of blindness in developing countries. The type of the agent may vary depending on the geographical conditions under which the patient lives, trauma exposure, the use of contact lenses and profession. Curvularia spp. is a saprophytic genus that rarely causes systemic disease in humans and has 250 species identified to date. They proliferate in soil and plants and spread to the environment with their spores and the formation of blackish and fluffy colonies is its most well-known morphological feature. There may be difficulties in cultivating brown (dematiaceous) fungi. Due to the similarity between the genera, conventional methods remain inadequate for diagnosis. In this report, a case of fungal keratitis associated with C.lunata was presented. Seventy-five years-old female patient admitted to the hospital with the symptoms of stinging pain, blurred vision, and swelling in the right eye. Her symptoms had begun four days ago after her eye was hit by a plant. The patient who had a history of peripheral neuropathy due to diabetes mellitus (DM) was hospitalized with a preliminary diagnosis of keratitis, and in the cultures of the patient's corneal scraping samples, the filamentous, black pigment-forming colonies of the pathogen growing on 5% sheep blood agar and potato dextrose agar showing an aerial hyphal structure, were stained with lactophenol cotton blue and examined under the microscope. The microscopic examination revealed geniculate conidiophores with brown pigmentation. On top of these structures were tetralocular macroconidia, one of which appeared to be larger than the main axis. The fungus was subjected to molecular identification with the prediagnosis of Curvularia/Bipolaris. DNA extraction of the ITS region polymerase chain reaction amplification and Sanger sequencing were performed for molecular identification. Sanger sequencing identified the agent to be Curvularia lunata with a similarity rate of 99.79% (NCBI-GenBank Nucleotide ID: OR365075). In vitro antifungal susceptibility of C.lunata was evaluated by microdilution method. Itraconazole and amphotericin B showed higher activity against C.lunata compared to other antifungals while fluconazole was the least active antifungal. Intrastromal and subconjunctival voriconazole injection was applied to the patient who was unresponsive to empirically initiated oral moxifloxacin and different topical treatments (vancomycin, ceftazidime, flucanozole, ganciclovir, cyclopentolate hydrochloride, hyaluronic acid and trehalose). After injection, right penetrating keratoplasty was applied due to increased thinning of the ulcerated area. No pathogen was detected in cultures taken after keratoplasty. Rare fungi should be considered in cases of keratitis that are difficult to treat. Fungal keratitis caused by brown fungi are clinically similar to each other and effective treatment protocols cannot be implemented without a species identification. Identification of the pathogen will enable genus-specific treatment. This will also help prevent complications that may occur. This article aims to present a case of fungal keratitis associated with C.lunata.

Exploring the globe salvaging treatment options in patients of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis with orbital involvement.

Purpose: To explore the various globe salvaging treatment strategies for patients with coronavirus disease 2019-associated mucormycosis (CAM). Methods: This was a prospective: interventional analytical study conducted at a Medical College in rural India. A total of 84 patients of CAM admitted between May 2021 and August 2021 were enrolled for the study. Patients with histologically proven CAM with clinical and/or radiological evidence of orbital involvement were divided into three treatment categories based on the site and extent of the lesion. Re-assessment was performed after 7 days. For patients who worsened with the primary approach, orbital exenteration was considered based on a Sion Hospital Scoring System. A novel approach to intra-orbital anti-fungal therapy, site-centered peri-bulbar injection of amphotericin B (SCPeriAmB), was also explored. All the patients were followed up for at least 3 months. Convenience sampling with descriptive statistics was used. Results: Six patients had to finally undergo exenteration by the end of the study period. The rest of the patients were reported to be stable or improved. No mortalities were reported on delaying the exenteration. No adverse events were noted in patients who were given SCPeriAmB. Conclusion: Globe salvaging treatment options should be advocated as a primary approach in patients with CAM. Site-centered peri-bulbar injections can be considered as an approach for delivering intra-orbital anti-fungal therapy in selected patients.

Fungal Endophthalmitis Outbreak after Cataract Surgery, South Korea, 2020.

In November 2020, an unusual increase in fungal endophthalmitis cases after cataract surgery was reported to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, South Korea. We initiated an outbreak investigation to identify the cause. We identified 156 cases nationwide, 62 confirmed and 94 probable. Most case-patients were exposed during surgery to ocular viscoelastic devices (OVDs) from the same manufacturer (company A). We isolated Fusarium spp. from 50 confirmed cases. Molecular identification of 39 fungal isolates from clinical samples and 13 isolates from OVDs confirmed F. oxysporum caused the infections. The risk ratio for fungal endophthalmitis from company A's OVDs was 86.0 (95% CI 27.4-256.9), much higher than risk from other manufacturers' products. We determined this fungal endophthalmitis outbreak was caused by a contaminated lot of OVDs and recommended discontinued use of this product. Early recognition of outbreaks and joint responses from related government agencies can reduce risk for fungal endophthalmitis.

Spectrum of signs, symptoms, and treatment in amphotericin B-resistant Trichosporon endophthalmitis: A series of ten cases of post-cataract surgery cluster endophthalmitis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to present the signs, symptoms, management, and outcome of a series of cases of cluster endophthalmitis caused by a multi-drug resistant fungus, Trichosporon. Methods: This was a retrospective, non-randomized, consecutive interventional case series. Ten cases of postoperative endophthalmitis operated by a surgeon on three consecutive operation theater (OT) days presented 3-5 months after their surgery. All cases were microbiologically confirmed. The pathogen was found to be resistant to most antifungals, including amphotericin B. The cases had a latent period of around 45 days. Management of endophthalmitis included intravitreal injections, anterior chamber (AC) lavage, Pars Plana vitrectomy (PPV), posterior capsulotomy, IOL, and capsular bag removal. Multiple intravitreal injections were required due to recurrence of infections after initial improvement with voriconazole injections. Results: Structural integrity was maintained and infection-free status was achieved in all the eyes. The presenting vision ranged from 6/60 to PL (perception of light). Seven out of 10 had improvement in their final vision over the presenting vision. Final outcome of four patients had vision of 6/24 or better, 4 patients had vision in the range of 2/60 to 6/36 and 2 patients had PL. Conclusion: Trichosporon can cause devasting infections even in the immunocompetent, especially in association with implants and catheters. Triazoles form the mainstay of treatment of Trichosporon infection due to the high susceptibility of the organism in vitro. A regimen including voriconazole and amphotericin B may prove to be the most effective. This is the first report of an outbreak of cluster endophthalmitis caused by Trichosporon.

Rhino-orbital mucormycosis in a patient with no susceptibility following P.vivax malaria infection-a case report.

BACKGROUND: Mucormycosis is a potentially lethal, angioinvasive fungal infection caused by the Mucoracea family comprising Mucor, Rhizopus, and Absidia species. It is commonly associated with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, the use of corticosteroids, immunosuppressive drugs, and Covid-19 infection. The occurrence of mucormycosis in an immunocompetent patient is rare. Also, only a few case reports have been published where patients developed mucormycosis with associated malarial infection. CASE PRESENTATION: A young female presented with a 3-weeks history of painful swelling and outward protrusion of the right eye with complete loss of vision. She had a history of P.vivax malaria two weeks before her ocular symptoms. On ocular examination, there was proptosis and total ophthalmoplegia with loss of corneal sensations in the right eye. Hematological examination revealed normocytic normochromic anemia and thrombocytopenia. MRI was suggestive of right-sided pansinusitis and orbital cellulitis with right superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis and bulky cavernous sinus. Nasal biopsy was negative for fungal culture. An emergency surgical debridement of all the sinuses was done with right orbital exenteration. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of mucormycosis and the patient improved post-operatively on systemic antifungals. CONCLUSION: Such an association of mucormycosis with malaria infection is rarely reported in the literature and is hypothesized to be a result of immunosuppression caused by malaria. Also, emphasis is laid upon having a high index of suspicion for fungal infection in the setting of pansinusitis even if the risk factors are absent. We hereby report a case of rhino-orbital mucormycosis following P.vivax malaria in a 20-year-old female with anemia and thrombocytopenia.

INTRAVITREAL ANTIVASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR FOR THE TREATMENT OF CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION SECONDARY TO OCULAR HISTOPLASMOSIS: Ten-Year Follow-Up.

PURPOSE: To assess the long-term efficacy of intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor injections (IVI), alone or in combination with verteporfin photodynamic therapy (IVI/PDT), for management of choroidal neovascularization secondary to presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (POHS). METHODS: Retrospective, comparative, interventional case series analyzing 82 eyes in 74 patients treated with either IVI or IVI/PDT for presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome choroidal neovascularization from January 2006 to January 2021. RESULTS: The average logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution VA in year 5 was 0.40 (20/50) and 0.52 (20/67) for IVI versus IVI/PDT groups, respectively ( P = 0.33), and in year 10 was 0.53 (20/58) and 0.64 (20/86), respectively ( P = 0.50). The average number of annual injections over the first 5 years of follow-up was 3.3 versus 1.7 for IVI versus IVI/PDT groups, respectively ( P < 0.001), and over 10 years was 3.3 versus 1.6, respectively ( P < 0.001). Treatment-free interval of 5 years was reached by 39% versus 60% in IVI versus IVI/PDT groups, respectively ( P = 0.95). CONCLUSION: Our study found both IVI and IVI/PDT to be effective in long-term management of presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome choroidal neovascularization, with a fewer number of annual injections and longer treatment-free interval in the combination group. However, given the limitations of a retrospective study, a prospective randomized study is necessary to determine whether the addition of PDT significantly decreases treatment burden.

Screening for Ocular Candidiasis Among Patients With Candidemia: Is It Time to Change Practice?

Ocular candidiasis (OC) complicates approximately 10% of candidemia and carries potentially severe morbidity. There are conflicting recommendations about the need for routine funduscopic examinations of candidemic patients. Indirect funduscopy is accurate and safe in diagnosing OC, and positive findings change recommended treatment. However, conclusive evidence that treatment changes improve outcomes is lacking. Bringing perspectives as infectious diseases physicians and ophthalmologists, we review controversies about OC and endorse routine screening during candidemia. We acknowledge difficulties in obtaining inpatient ophthalmologic consults and recommend studies to evaluate digital fundus photography and teleophthalmology as an alternative to funduscopic examinations by ophthalmologists in asymptomatic patients.

Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Presumed Ocular Histoplasmosis in Olmsted County, Minnesota.

PURPOSE: To describe the incidence, prevalence, and clinical characteristics of presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (POHS) in a Histoplasma endemic region. METHODS: The International Classification of Diseases, 9th and 10th Revision codes were used to search the Rochester Epidemiology Project, a record-linkage system for medical care provided in Olmsted County, MN. Medical records were reviewed to confirm POHS diagnoses in county residents from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2015. Age- and sex-adjusted incidence rates were calculated and adjusted to the 2010 U.S. White population. RESULTS: There were 18 incident cases (30 eyes) and 87 prevalent cases (131 eyes). The incidence rate was 1.35 per 100,000 per year. The mid-study prevalence rate was 0.064%. Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) occurred in 17.4% of the affected eyes. At the last follow-up, 16.8% of the affected eyes had POHS-related decreased visual acuity (<20/40). CONCLUSION: This study assesses the epidemiology and clinical features of POHS in a Midwestern U.S. county. ABBREVIATIONS/ACRONYMS: POHS = Presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome; ICD = International Classification of Diseases; CI = Confidence interval; VA = Visual acuity; Anti-VEGF = Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor; REP = Rochester Epidemiology Project, CNV = Choroidal neovascularization.

A case of endogenous candida endophthalmitis with incidental cytomegalovirus infection and optic neuropathy in a patient recovered from severe COVID-19.

A 62-year-old female diabetic recovered from COVID-19 pneumonia after receiving a prolonged course of steroids. She presented with a clinical picture of left-eye panuveitis with white cotton ball chorioretinal lesions and RAPD suggesting an optic neuropathy (VA HM). Diagnostic vitrectomy was performed to take samples for infective screen and to give intravitreal voriconazole empirically. Smear, culture, and PCR for viral DNA confirmed mixed infection of endogenous Candida endophthalmitis and incidental CMV infection. With further treatment, her corrected vision improved to 6/18 with regressing fungal lesions in serial fundus photographs. Prompt diagnosis and intervention preserved her vision and prevented potential life-threatening complications.

Clinico-Radiological-Pathological Correlation of Visual Loss in COVID-Associated Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mucormycosis.

PURPOSE: To correlate the clinical, radiological, and histopathological features in Covid-associated Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis cases presenting with acute visual loss. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Covid-associated Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis cases with unilateral visual loss, planned for exenteration, underwent orbital and ophthalmological ocular examination. The available radiological sequences, doppler ultrasonography and histopathology findings were correlated with clinical manifestations. RESULTS: The median age was 51 years and the male: female ratio was 3:1. All except one presented with unilateral ophthalmoplegia. The ocular media were hazy in 2 eyes. In 8 eyes, retinal changes were suggestive of occlusion of CRA (6), combined occlusion of CRA and central retinal vein (1), and myopic degeneration with hypertensive retinopathy (1). The contralateral eye showed retinal ischemic changes in one patient. Radiological imaging showed orbital apex involvement in the 10 affected eyes and one contralateral eye. Ipsilateral cavernous sinus thrombosis, diffusion restriction on MRI of optic nerve, internal carotid artery narrowing/thrombosis, and cortical watershed infarcts were seen in 8, 4, 4, and 2 cases, respectively. The blood flow in CRA and ophthalmic artery was absent or reduced in all the 10 affected eyes and in 1 contralateral eye. On histopathology, orbital fat necrosis, fungal hyphae, acute inflammation, granuloma formation, ischemic thrombosis of ophthalmic artery was observed in 10 specimens. CRA was patent in 9 and thrombosed in 1 eye. Optic nerve was ischemic in 8 and viable in 2 eyes. CONCLUSION: Acute visual loss in ROCM cases is associated with orbital apex involvement and thrombotic ischemia of ophthalmic artery. Cessation of flow in CRA possibly occurs secondary to ophthalmic artery thrombosis.

Fungal keratitis due to Scopulariopsis brevicaulis and a potential promising therapeutic effect of antibacterial agents: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Microbial keratitis is a serious potentially blinding corneal infection. Contact lens wear remains the most common predisposing factor. Fungal keratitis represent only a small fraction of the overall number of cases of contact lens-associated microbial keratitis, however they are proportionally more severe. PATIENT CONCERNS: An 18-year-old female, who occasionally used eye cosmetic soft contact lenses, presented with pain, redness, and blurring of vision in her left eye. DIAGNOSIS: The left eye showed decreased visual acuity, central corneal ulcer and abscess, and severe ciliary injection. A provisional diagnosis of infectious keratitis was considered. INTERVENTION: Corneal scrapings were aseptically collected and directly inoculated onto sterile bacterial and fungal agar plates that were immediately incubated. The patient was admitted and started on topical and systemic antibacterial agents. OUTCOMES: The infection showed signs of satisfactory clinical resolution. However, the mold Scopulariopsis brevicaulis was isolated in pure colonies 5 days after presentation. CONCLUSION: We report the first case from Jordan of fungal keratitis caused by the mold S brevicaulis. A high index of suspicion is required for fungal keratitis caused by S brevicaulis in immunocompetent patients who wear contact lenses despite its rarity. This fungal infection was successfully treated using antibacterial agents. However, larger studies are recommended to investigate the clinical effectiveness of antimicrobial agents that have both antibacterial and antifungal effects and to assess their role as empirical therapeutic modalities for infectious keratitis.

A Unique Radiologic Case of Optic Nerve Infarction in a Patient With Mucormycosis.

ABSTRACT: This is a rare presentation of a unilateral optic nerve infarction of the left eye caused by mucormycosis in a 51-year-old man with poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes. Diffusion-weighted MRI of the orbit demonstrated extensive infarction of the left optic nerve with ipsilateral cavernous sinus thrombosis and periorbital adnexal inflammation. Left orbital exenteration and sinus debridement were performed, and mucormycosis involving the optic nerve sheath was confirmed on histopathology.

Unusual presentation of mucormycosis mimicking a localised sino-orbital pathology.

Mucormycosis is an aggressive and deadly fungal infection, which is invariably associated with an immunocompromised patient. Mucormycosis in the head and neck region presents as skeletal necrosis, with or without soft tissue involvement. Early identification and treatment with combination of surgical debridement and parenteral antifungal therapy is critical for a favourable outcome. This paper reports an unusual presentation of mucormycosis, mimicking a localised sino-orbital pathology involving the infraorbital subcutaneous tissue and the maxillary sinus, in a 35 years old immunocompetent man. Despite aggressive antifungal therapy and surgical management, the course of disease was fatal, reiterating the high mortality associated with mucormycosis.

Risk Factors for Endogenous Endophthalmitis in Hospitalized Patients with Candida Fungemia.

PURPOSE: To use the 2002 through 2014 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database to identify risk factors for endogenous endophthalmitis (EE) in hospitalized patients with candidemia. DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Hospitalized patients sampled in the NIS database. METHODS: The NIS database (2002-2014) was used to identify patients with candidemia and EE and their comorbidities. Descriptive analysis was performed with chi-square testing, and risk factors for EE were identified using logistic regression analysis. Chi-square testing and regression analysis were performed using IBM SPSS software version 23 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY) and R package software version 3.4.3 (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria), respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Diagnosis of EE in hospitalized patients with candidemia. RESULTS: We identified 98 783 hospitalized patients with candidemia; 529 patients (0.5%) had concurrent EE. Men constituted 48.0% of patients who did not demonstrate EE and 45.1% of those who did (P = 0.186). The average age of fungemia patients with EE was 54.6 years and of those without EE was 58.2 years (P < 0.001). Most EE cases (58.6%) occurred in patients 21 to 64 years of age. Hispanic (odds ratio [OR], 1.58), Asian or Pacific Islander (OR, 3.51), and Native American (OR, 5.22) patients with candidemia were at an increased risk of EE developing compared with White patients. Candida endocarditis (OR, 1.84), cirrhosis (OR, 1.93), diabetes with chronic complications (OR, 1.96), intravenous drug use (OR, 3.12), radiation therapy (OR, 5.28), and solid organ transplantation (OR, 2.48) increased the risk of seeding the infection into the eye. Conversely, chronic kidney disease (OR, 0.53) and invasive mechanical intubation (OR, 0.43) were associated with a decreased risk of EE. The mortality of inpatients with candidemia was significantly lower in the EE group (2.8% vs. 15.6%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Systemic comorbidities that increased the risk of EE in candidemia included endocarditis, cirrhosis, diabetes with chronic complications, intravenous drug use, radiation therapy, and solid organ transplantation. Racial disparity was observed with Hispanics, Asians and Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans at a higher risk than Whites of being diagnosed with EE in the setting of Candida fungemia.

Invasive rhino-orbital-cerebral aspergillosis in an immunocompetent patient.

INTRODUCTION: Rhino-orbital-aspergillosis (ROA) is a rare but serious disease in immunocompetent patients. Diagnosis is often delayed due to the absence of specific clinical symptoms. We describe the case of a patient who presented initially with ROA which spread progressively to the right ethmoid-sphenoid sinuses and then to the brain. OBSERVATION: A 61-year-old patient with a history of well-controlled diabetes presented with a sudden severe decrease in right visual acuity. Cerebral MRI showed the presence of an infiltrate in the right orbital apex extending to the homolateral cavernous sinus without any cerebral involvement. A diagnosis of right orbital myositis was made and corticosteroid therapy was started. His symptoms worsened progressively leading to quasi-blindness. A new MRI showed the development of right sphenoid-ethmoid osteolytic lesions. A fungal aetiology was suspected and tests for fungal biomarkers found a ß-(1-3)-D-glucan level of 99pg/ml but negative galactomannan. An ethmoid biopsy was performed for histological and mycological investigations, including the detection of Aspergillus DNA by qPCR. qPCR was positive and culture resulted in the isolation of multi-sensitive Aspergillus fumigatus. Treatment was initiated with voriconazole. Due to persistence of blindness and the appearance of a lesion extending to the right frontal lobe, surgical excision was performed followed by antifungal treatment for a total duration of 1year. The patient is currently stable, but has persistence of blindness in the right eye. CONCLUSION: Invasive ROA is a rare but serious disease in immunocompetent patients which should be evoked in the differential diagnosis of a tumour or vasculitis. Early diagnosis is essential for optimal management.