Clinical treatment of corneal infection due to Fonsecaea pedrosoi--case report.

Author(s): Hofling-Lima AL, Guarro J, Freitas D, Godoy P, Gene J, Souza LB, Zaror L, Romano AC

Affiliation(s): Departamento de Oftalmologia, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP. anahofling@uol.com.br

Publication date & source: 2005-03, Arq Bras Oftalmol., 68(2):270-2. Epub 2005 May 18.

Publication type: Case Reports

To report an unusual case of fungus keratitis due to Fonsecaea pedrosoi that developed after corneal trauma. CASE REPORT: A 18-year-old male presented with a corneal ulcer in the right eye, 28 days after a trauma with glass fragments. Corneal scrapings were collected for smears and culture. Dematiaceous hyphae were seen on wet mounts of the scrapings and dark pigmented colonies grew repetitively on the culture media; all colonies were identical, and were subsequently identified as Fonsecaea pedrosoi. Treatment was initiated with topical natamycin at one hour intervals, 200 mg oral ketoconazole per day and later changed to a combination of 200 mg ketoconazole and amphotericin B. In humid tropical regions Fonsecaea pedrosoi is one of the primary causes of human chronic cutaneous mycosis, chromoblastomycosis. Combination of systemic and topical antifungal medications may provide the best option for cure in corneal chromoblastomycosis.