title: Pencillium keratitis in an Immunocompetent Patient from Pune, Maharashtra, India.
abstract: The incidence of fungal keratitis is less common than bacterial and viral keratitis. However, it remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Delayed clinical diagnosis is common mainly because of lack of suspicion. Further slow growth of fungus increases the time for confirmed laboratory diagnosis. After accurate diagnosis, patient's management remains inadequate due to lack of availability of antifungal agents and its poor corneal penetration. Multitude of genera of molds and yeast have been identified in fungal keratitis. Due to their ubiquitous nature and easy isolation from the environment, their role in true pathogenesis is difficult to ascertain. Worldwide, incidence of fungal keratitis is rising at present. The predisposing factors comprises trauma, use of contact lenses and topical steroids. Filamentous fungi and dematiaceous fungi are the frequently encountered etiological agents of fungal keratitis. Dimorphic fungi are reported less frequently. Fungal keratitis tends to occur more frequently in young males and usually in winter and monsoon. Penicillium genera includes several species. By far Penicillium marneffei (P. marneffei) infection is most common, mainly associated with AIDS. A number of infections caused by species other than P. marneffei have been reported as well. Here we report a case of Penicillium keratitis in a young, HIV negative male farmer.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Pad.Dr.D.Y.Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Center (DY Patil Vidyapeeth Pune) Pimpri , Pune, India .
authors.forename: Chanda Ratnakar
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Vyawahare
authors.affiliation: HOD and Professor, Department of Microbiology, Pad.Dr.D.Y.Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Center (DY Patil Vidyapeeth Pune) Pimpri , Pune, India .
authors.forename: Rabindra Nath
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Misra
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Microbiology, Pad.Dr.D.Y.Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Center (DY Patil Vidyapeeth Pune) Pimpri , Pune, India .
authors.forename: Nageswari Rajesh
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Gandham
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Pad.Dr.D.Y.Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Center (DY Patil Vidyapeeth Pune) Pimpri , Pune, India .
authors.forename: Kalpna Mohan
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Angadi
authors.affiliation: Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, Pad.Dr.D.Y.Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Center (DY Patil Vidyapeeth Pune) Pimpri , Pune, India .
authors.forename: Retina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paul
keywords: Fungal keratitis; Penicillium keratitis; Penicillium marneffei