Combined Phialemonium curvatum and Acanthamoeba Keratitis: The Importance of Early Diagnosis and Specific Therapy

Cornea. 2021 Oct 1;40(10):1340-1343. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000002660.

Abstract

Purpose: To report the clinical and confocal findings of a unique case of combined Phialemonium curvatum and Acanthamoeba keratitis and to highlight the role of the prompt diagnosis and specific medical treatment in preserving visual function.

Methods: A case report and literature review.

Results: A 54-year-old woman presented with a 3-day history of visual impairment, photophobia, and ocular pain in her right eye. Her best corrected visual acuity was 0.4 Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution scale, and the slit-lamp examination showed whitish corneal stromal infiltrate with satellite lesions. In vivo confocal microscopy evidenced Acanthamoeba cysts and fungal hyphae that resulted P. curvatum in the culture examination. The intensive medical treatment was started with topical 0.02% polyhexamethylene biguanide, voriconazole 1%, and moxifloxacin hydrochloride 0.5%. Progressive improvement of clinical and confocal pictures was registered with a complete recovery of visual function after 1 month.

Conclusions: This is the first case report of combined P. curvatum and Acanthamoeba keratitis. The fast diagnosis with in vivo confocal microscopy allowed early and intensive specific treatment with recovery of corneal infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acanthamoeba Keratitis / diagnosis*
  • Acanthamoeba Keratitis / drug therapy
  • Acanthamoeba Keratitis / parasitology
  • Administration, Ophthalmic
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Ascomycota / isolation & purification*
  • Biguanides / therapeutic use
  • Disinfectants / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Early Diagnosis
  • Eye Infections, Fungal / diagnosis*
  • Eye Infections, Fungal / drug therapy
  • Eye Infections, Fungal / microbiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Keratitis / diagnosis*
  • Keratitis / drug therapy
  • Keratitis / microbiology
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Middle Aged
  • Moxifloxacin / therapeutic use
  • Mycoses / diagnosis*
  • Mycoses / drug therapy
  • Mycoses / microbiology
  • Ophthalmic Solutions
  • Slit Lamp Microscopy
  • Voriconazole / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Biguanides
  • Disinfectants
  • Ophthalmic Solutions
  • polihexanide
  • Voriconazole
  • Moxifloxacin

Supplementary concepts

  • Phialemoniopsis curvata