Clinical Pharmacy

Biography

Biography: Hind Alkatan

Abstract

Fungal keratitis accounts for 6-53% of all cases of ulcerative keratitis in variable studies. The majority of cases are due to septate fungi (1,2). The abnormal cornea in cases of dry eye syndrome, chronic ulceration, erythema multiform and possibly HIV infection is infected more commonly with Candida (2). In a small series of spontaneous ulcerative keratitis in immunocompromised patients 3 out of the 5 infected corneas were caused by Candida albicans (3). In regard to corneal graft infectious crystalline keratoplasty, several Candida species have been identified including Candida guilliermondii and parapsilosis (6,7). The most commonly isolated yeast in infections generally is Candida albicans however it seems that Candida parapsilosis is found with increasing frequency (8). Candida parapsilosis affects neonates and intensive care unit (ICU) patients. In regard to the management, combination of surgery and antifungal drug is the usual therapeutic modality for most of eye fungal infections (2) In a previous study on mycotic keratitis, filamentous fungi were more commonly isolated than yeasts accounting for 71.3% (Aspergillus being the commonest followed by Fusarium) compared to 28.7% yeast infection most commonly by Candida species (12). In that study 5 cases of Candida parapsilosis were identified, however the infection was associated with other virulent pathogens in all these cases (12). We are presenting 2 successive cases of corneal graft infection by Candida parapsilosis originating from a single eye center within a short period of time to attract the attention of ophthalmologists and health workers to such an infection.