Case Report: A Rare Fungal Keratitis Caused by Plectosphaerella Cucumerina .

Authors :: Shen Z
Zhang Y
Li F
Zhang Q
Source :: Ocular immunology and inflammation [Ocul Immunol Inflamm] 2023 Apr; Vol. 31 (3), pp. 631-634. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Apr 08.
Publication Year :: 2023
Abstract: Purpose: To report a rare case of fungal keratitis caused by Plectosphaerella cucumerina .<br />Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of a case of fungal keratitis.<br />Results: Silt-lamp biomicroscopy revealed corneal infiltration and epithelial defects. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) were performed to assist in the diagnosis and evaluate corneal conditions. The isolate was identified as Plectosphaerella cucumerina by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The patient was treated with topical 5% pimaricin and oral voriconazole for 1 month and recovered.<br />Conclusion: Fungal keratitis caused by Plectosphaerella cucumerina is rare. AS-OCT and IVCM can help locate the lesion and diagnose fungal keratitis. Furthermore, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry showed potential prospects in the identification of filamentous fungi. Plectosphaerella cucumerina rarely infects humans and is sensitive to antifungal agents such as pimaricin and voriconazole.