Clinical Characteristics of Alternaria Keratitis

Purpose. Alternaria spp. are an uncommon cause of mycotic keratitis. Previous studies on Alternaria keratitis have generally been limited to case reports. We examined the clinical characteristics of Alternaria keratitis in this study. Methods. The characteristics and outcomes of 7 patients with cult...

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Main Authors: Ching-Hsi Hsiao, Lung-Kun Yeh, Hung-Chi Chen, Hsin-Chiung Lin, Phil Y. F. Chen, David H. K. Ma, Hsin-Yuan Tan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:Journal of Ophthalmology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/536985
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author Ching-Hsi Hsiao
Lung-Kun Yeh
Hung-Chi Chen
Hsin-Chiung Lin
Phil Y. F. Chen
David H. K. Ma
Hsin-Yuan Tan
author_facet Ching-Hsi Hsiao
Lung-Kun Yeh
Hung-Chi Chen
Hsin-Chiung Lin
Phil Y. F. Chen
David H. K. Ma
Hsin-Yuan Tan
author_sort Ching-Hsi Hsiao
collection DOAJ
description Purpose. Alternaria spp. are an uncommon cause of mycotic keratitis. Previous studies on Alternaria keratitis have generally been limited to case reports. We examined the clinical characteristics of Alternaria keratitis in this study. Methods. The characteristics and outcomes of 7 patients with culture-proven Alternaria keratitis treated in our hospital were compared with 25 previously reported cases. Results. The risk factors for Alternaria keratitis were trauma in 5 patients and soft contact lenses in 1 patient. Six patients with early diagnosis (<2 weeks) were cured with medical antimicrobial treatment; a patch graft was required in 1 patient with perforation. When incorporated with previous reports on Alternaria keratitis (n=32), 14 (44%) infections followed trauma, 10 (31%) were associated with preexisting corneal disease or previous ocular surgery, and 5 (16%) occurred in soft contact lens wearers. Successful medical treatment was achieved in 23 (72%) patients, including 10 out of 21 eyes (48%) treated with natamycin and/or amphotericin B. Therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty was performed in 9 (28%) cases. Conclusions. Alternaria keratitis is generally associated with specific risk factors and responds to medical treatment when early diagnosis is performed and prompt antifungal treatment is initiated.
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spelling doaj-art-33f8bf2478bf4ae78c159e2bd1fbb50e2025-08-20T02:24:15ZengWileyJournal of Ophthalmology2090-004X2090-00582014-01-01201410.1155/2014/536985536985Clinical Characteristics of Alternaria KeratitisChing-Hsi Hsiao0Lung-Kun Yeh1Hung-Chi Chen2Hsin-Chiung Lin3Phil Y. F. Chen4David H. K. Ma5Hsin-Yuan Tan6Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 5 Fu-Hsin Road, Kweishan 333, Taoyuan, TaiwanDepartment of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 5 Fu-Hsin Road, Kweishan 333, Taoyuan, TaiwanDepartment of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 5 Fu-Hsin Road, Kweishan 333, Taoyuan, TaiwanDepartment of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 5 Fu-Hsin Road, Kweishan 333, Taoyuan, TaiwanDepartment of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 5 Fu-Hsin Road, Kweishan 333, Taoyuan, TaiwanDepartment of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 5 Fu-Hsin Road, Kweishan 333, Taoyuan, TaiwanDepartment of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 5 Fu-Hsin Road, Kweishan 333, Taoyuan, TaiwanPurpose. Alternaria spp. are an uncommon cause of mycotic keratitis. Previous studies on Alternaria keratitis have generally been limited to case reports. We examined the clinical characteristics of Alternaria keratitis in this study. Methods. The characteristics and outcomes of 7 patients with culture-proven Alternaria keratitis treated in our hospital were compared with 25 previously reported cases. Results. The risk factors for Alternaria keratitis were trauma in 5 patients and soft contact lenses in 1 patient. Six patients with early diagnosis (<2 weeks) were cured with medical antimicrobial treatment; a patch graft was required in 1 patient with perforation. When incorporated with previous reports on Alternaria keratitis (n=32), 14 (44%) infections followed trauma, 10 (31%) were associated with preexisting corneal disease or previous ocular surgery, and 5 (16%) occurred in soft contact lens wearers. Successful medical treatment was achieved in 23 (72%) patients, including 10 out of 21 eyes (48%) treated with natamycin and/or amphotericin B. Therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty was performed in 9 (28%) cases. Conclusions. Alternaria keratitis is generally associated with specific risk factors and responds to medical treatment when early diagnosis is performed and prompt antifungal treatment is initiated.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/536985
spellingShingle Ching-Hsi Hsiao
Lung-Kun Yeh
Hung-Chi Chen
Hsin-Chiung Lin
Phil Y. F. Chen
David H. K. Ma
Hsin-Yuan Tan
Clinical Characteristics of Alternaria Keratitis
Journal of Ophthalmology
title Clinical Characteristics of Alternaria Keratitis
title_full Clinical Characteristics of Alternaria Keratitis
title_fullStr Clinical Characteristics of Alternaria Keratitis
title_full_unstemmed Clinical Characteristics of Alternaria Keratitis
title_short Clinical Characteristics of Alternaria Keratitis
title_sort clinical characteristics of alternaria keratitis
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/536985
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