In vivo and in vitro investigations of fungal keratitis caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.
OBJECTIVE
To report a case of fungal keratitis caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, which is a rare pathogen in humans.


METHODS
An 80-year-old woman developed fungal keratitis after having sustained a traumatic injury during field work. The patient was initially examined by slit-lamp biomicroscopy and the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II-Rostock Cornea Module (HRT II-RCM). Corneal scrapings were collected and submitted for laboratory investigations.


RESULTS
Many septate, hyphae-like interlocking and branching white lines were observed in the area of the infiltrate by HRT II-RCM. A tentative diagnosis of fungal keratitis was made, and the patient was treated with systemic and topical voriconazole and pimaricin ophthalmic ointment. The infectious focus resolved within 2 weeks, and there were no signs of a recurrence after 3 months of treatment with the antifungal agents. The culture of the corneal scraping grew C. gloeosporioides.


CONCLUSIONS
HRT II-RCM was useful in detecting filamentous fungi in the cornea. The treatment with voriconazole and pimaricin was effective in the treatment of C. gloeosporioides keratitis.
Mitani
Arisa
A
Department of Ophthalmology, Ehime University School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Toon-City, Ehime, Japan.
Shiraishi
Atsushi
A
Uno
Toshihiko
T
Miyamoto
Hitoshi
H
Hara
Yuko
Y
Yamaguchi
Masahiko
M
Ohashi
Yuichi
Y
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020231:Colletotrichum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015821:Eye Infections, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D010866:Natamycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014230:Triazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D065819:Voriconazole
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D011743:Pyrimidines; D014230:Triazoles; D010866:Natamycin; D065819:Voriconazole