International Medical Case Reports Journal (Jan 2023)
Case Report: Alternaria alternata keratitis
Abstract
João Leite,1 João Romano,2 Virginia Lopes,3 Miguel Mesquita Neves,1 Miguel Gomes,1 Luis Oliveira1 1Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto (CHUPorto), Porto, Portugal; 2Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar de Leiria, Leiria, Portugal; 3Department of Microbiology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto (CHUPorto), Porto, PortugalCorrespondence: João Leite, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto [CHUPorto], Largo do Prof. Abel Salazar, Porto, 4099-001, Portugal, Tel +351916523942, Email [email protected]: Alternaria spp are ubiquitous pigmented filamentous fungi that can cause opportunistic human infections. These molds can be found in healthy individuals and the most frequently observed clinical manifestations are skin infections, ocular mycosis, rhinosinusitis, among others. Immunosuppression (both local and systemic) as well as contact or trauma with contaminated matter are important risk and predisposing factors for ocular mycosis. Accurate diagnosis with microscopy and culture is crucial since infections by filamentous fungi are sight-threatening, and clinically indistinguishable from bacterial disease. In general terms, conventional antifungal drugs are effective.Case Presentation: We report a case of Alternaria alternata keratitis after ocular trauma with biological material in a 44-year-old man’s functional single eye, which had a good clinical and functional evolution after topical therapy with voriconazole.Conclusion: This case accounts the importance of thinking about other etiological diagnoses in infectious keratitis refractory to the established therapy and with a history of trauma with biological material.Keywords: keratitis, Alternaria alternata, eye infection
