Outbreak of fungal endophthalmitis due to Fusarium oxysporum following cataract surgery

Mycopathologia. 2014 Feb;177(1-2):115-21. doi: 10.1007/s11046-013-9721-5. Epub 2014 Jan 1.

Abstract

Outbreak of exogenous Fusarium endophthalmitis after cataract surgery was evaluated. Twenty patients developed postoperative endophthalmitis. In 19 eyes, pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) was performed, in 14 cases (74 %) with primary intraocular lens explantation. In one case, the PPV was not performed because of poor general condition of the patient. Symptoms of endophthalmitis (damaged vision, iritis, tyndallization in anterior chamber, hypopyon) occurred at intervals of 16-79 days (mean 31.3 days). Fungal etiology was documented in 12 eyes (60 %). Fusarium oxysporum was evidenced by culture and/or microscopy and confirmed by PCR and sequencing analysis. Eighteen (90 %) patients were treated with oral voriconazole (400 mg/day) for a period of 4-6 weeks. The final visual acuity was 6/15 in 1 case (5 %), 6/60 and worse in 17 eyes (85 %), and in 2 cases (10 %), enucleation had to be performed. Viscoelastic filling material was suggested the most likely source of infection. Endophthalmitis caused by Fusarium spp. are a potentially big threat for patients with serious impact on vision. Successful management of the infection is highly dependent on early diagnosis including species identification and antifungal susceptibility testing, and on aggressive and long-term treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cataract Extraction / adverse effects*
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Endophthalmitis / drug therapy
  • Endophthalmitis / epidemiology*
  • Endophthalmitis / microbiology
  • Eye Infections, Fungal / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Fusariosis / drug therapy
  • Fusariosis / epidemiology*
  • Fusariosis / microbiology
  • Fusarium / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Complications / microbiology*
  • Pyrimidines / therapeutic use
  • Triazoles / therapeutic use
  • Vitrectomy
  • Voriconazole

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Pyrimidines
  • Triazoles
  • Voriconazole