Alternaria keratitis after deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty

Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol. 2014 Jan-Mar;21(1):92-4. doi: 10.4103/0974-9233.124121.

Abstract

To describe a case of Alternaria keratitis in a 30-year-old male patient who presented with bilateral vascularised central corneal opacity and underwent deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) in the left eye. Patient was treated for recurrent epithelial defect with a bandage contact lens in the follow-up visits after DALK. Subsequently, patient presented with pigmented fungal keratitis, which on culture examination of the corneal scrapping demonstrated Alternaria species. Patient had to undergo a repeat DALK as the keratitis did not resolve with medical therapy alone. Patient did not have a recurrence for 11 months following the regraft. This case report highlights the importance of considering the Alternaria species as a possibile cause of non-resolving fungal keratitis after DALK.

Keywords: Alternaria; Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty; Fungal Keratitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alternaria / isolation & purification*
  • Alternariosis / diagnosis
  • Alternariosis / drug therapy
  • Alternariosis / microbiology*
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Corneal Transplantation*
  • Corneal Ulcer / diagnosis
  • Corneal Ulcer / drug therapy
  • Corneal Ulcer / microbiology*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Eye Infections, Fungal / diagnosis
  • Eye Infections, Fungal / drug therapy
  • Eye Infections, Fungal / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Postoperative Complications*
  • Visual Acuity

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents