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BMJ Case Rep 2022 Jun 27;15(6). Epub 2022 Jun 27.

Microbiology services, LV Prasad Eye Institute Bhubaneswar Campus, Bhubaneswar, India

A man in his 20s, with irritation, pain and photophobia in the left eye, was clinically diagnosed with herpes simplex virus nummular keratitis at our institute and advised topical antivirals and corticosteroids, causing resolution of active infiltrates. The infection recurred after 7 months and the patient did not respond to the previous regimen, so corneal scraping was sent for microbiological evaluation. Gram-positive bacilli grew on culture, which were identified as using VITEK 2 Compact system (bioMérieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France). Read More

Curr Eye Res 2022 Jun 27:1-26. Epub 2022 Jun 27.

Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to explore the antifungal and anti-inflammatory effects of perillaldehyde (PAE) in () keratitis and the underlying mechanism.

Methods: The biofilm formation, adherence assay, propidium iodide uptake test were used to determine the possible mechanism of PAE in terms of antifungal effects in vitro. The severity of corneal infection was evaluated by clinical scores. Read More

Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol (Engl Ed) 2022 Jun 22. Epub 2022 Jun 22.

Departamento de Oftalmología (Qvision), Hospital Vithas Vírgen del Mar, Almería, Spain; Hospital Universitario Vírgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain; Universidad de Sevilla, Departamento de Cirugía, Área de Oftalmología, Sevilla, Spain.

Infectious keratitis (IK) is one of the most common causes of monocular blindness worldwide, especially in developing countries and may account for 5.1%-32.3% of all indications for penetrating keratoplasty (PK). Read More

Med Mycol 2022 Jun 24. Epub 2022 Jun 24.

The University of Toronto, Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, Toronto, Canada.

Fungal keratitis is a devastating and difficult-to-treat ocular infection with high morbidity. Understanding geographic microbiological and clinical trends helps to guide rapid and effective treatment. We therefore report the characteristics and outcomes of fungal keratitis in Toronto, Canada over a twenty-year period. Read More

Curr Med Mycol 2021 Dec;7(4):43-48

Microbiology Department, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Background And Purpose: Although and are more commonly implicated with ocular infections; there are some saprophytic species, such as () which may occasionally lead to serious ocular infections. There is a paucity of data on ocular infections caused by . We report a case series of three ophthalmic infections caused by from a tertiary care eye center in North India. Read More

Exp Parasitol 2022 Jun 20;239:108312. Epub 2022 Jun 20.

Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Acanthamoeba castellanii is a free-living protozoan that causes several severe human parasitic diseases such as Acanthamoeba keratitis and granulomatous encephalitis. A. castellanii feeds on bacteria, yeasts, and other organic particles as food sources, but the mechanisms of digestion in acanthamoebal cells are unclear. Read More

Rev Chilena Infectol 2022 02;39(1):86-90

Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo, Paraguay.

We present a clinical case of keratitis caused by M. abscessus in a 76-year-old female patient, resident in the city of Asunción, without trauma or previous ocular surgery and with a history of herpetic keratouveitis. Because it is a keratitis caused by a rare etiological agent and because of the importance of a correct and timely diagnosis for the establishment of appropriate treatment, the present case is reported, the first of Mycobacteria keratitis in Paraguay. Read More

Maedica (Bucur) 2022 Mar;17(1):211-214

Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece.

is a widely distributed fungus that has evolved as an important pathogen, especially in immunocompromised individuals, causing fungemias, central nervous system infections, peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis and keratitis. Even though there are a few reports of skin and soft tissue infections caused by , all these cases involve immunocompromised individuals. is a Gram-positive bacterium known to cause several infections such as bloodstream, urinary tract and skin and soft tissue infections. Read More

Sci Rep 2022 Jun 17;12(1):10264. Epub 2022 Jun 17.

Department of Optometry and Visual Science, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

Empirical antimicrobial therapy is linked to a surge in antimicrobial resistant infections. However, an insight on the bacteria etiology of ocular infections is essential in the appropriation of choice of antimicrobial among clinicians, yet there remains a dearth of data from Ghana. We investigated the bacteria etiology of external ocular and periocular infections and antimicrobial treatment patterns among a Ghanaian ophthalmic population. Read More

Infect Drug Resist 2022 10;15:3005-3012. Epub 2022 Jun 10.

Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, People's Republic of China.

Purpose: To describe the etiology and spectrum of isolated pathogens in endophthalmitis over 10 years from an ophthalmic hospital in North China and report their antimicrobial susceptibilities.

Patients And Methods: The data covered the patients with endophthalmitis treated at Qingdao Eye Hospital from January 2011 to December 2020. Patients' medical history, pathogenic factors, bacterial and fungal culture results of intraocular specimens, and in vitro drug sensitivity test results were assessed. Read More

Curr Opin Ophthalmol 2022 Jun 16. Epub 2022 Jun 16.

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Purpose Of Review: The aim of this study was to review the existing literature and investigate the role of microbiologic culture and histopathologic examination of corneal biopsies in the management of infectious keratitis.

Recent Findings: Corneal biopsy continues to be a significantly useful tool in the diagnosis and tailored management of infectious keratitis. Several techniques can be employed for tissue collection, handling and processing to optimize diagnostic yield and maximize safety, including emerging femtosecond laser-assisted biopsy. Read More

Eye Contact Lens 2022 Jun;48(6):272-275

Departments of Ophthalmology (P.K.M., G.S., S.N., R.P.V., R.N., R.S., T.A., N.S., J.S.T.), and Ocular Microbiology (N.H.), Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Purpose: To report the clinical profile and treatment outcomes of patients with culture-positive Acremonium keratitis.

Methods: This is a retrospective observational study. Medical records of all patients treated in a tertiary eye hospital for culture positive infective keratitis from March 2016 to February 2021 were screened, of which those positive for Acremonium species on fungal culture were reviewed. Read More

Zhonghua Yan Ke Za Zhi 2022 Jun;58(6):433-440

Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.

To analyze the etiological changes of children with infectious keratitis. Retrospective study. Data of patients diagnosed as bacterial, fungal, and amoebic keratitis from 2007 to 2016, aged no more than 14 years old, were collected in the Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital. Read More

JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc 2022 Jun 1;60(250):546-550. Epub 2022 Jun 1.

Department of Health Education, Biratnagar Eye Hospital, Rani, Biratnagar, Morang, Nepal.

Introduction: Keratitis, an ocular emergency, requires rapid and accurate treatment to prevent vision impairment. Wet mount direct microscopy examination of corneal scraping smear using gram and 10% potassium hydroxide stain helps in early diagnosis and treatment. The main objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of positive microbiological stains of corneal scrapings among patients with keratitis in a tertiary care centre. Read More

Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2022 Jun 10. Epub 2022 Jun 10.

Department of Ophthalmology, Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Duesseldorf, Germany.

Purpose: Aim of this study was to evaluate the frequencies, trends, and antibiotic resistance of bacteria collected from ocular surface or contact lens material in a German tertiary referral center from 2009 to 2019.

Methods: Microbiological data from 2009 to 2019 was analyzed. Culture-dependent microbial identification and analysis of antibiotic sensitivity was completed by the Institute of Microbiology. Read More

Vet Ophthalmol 2022 Jun 9. Epub 2022 Jun 9.

Department of Comparative, Diagnostic & Population Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.

Purpose: To examine the relationship between Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MICs) and response to therapy of 6 Fusarium spp. and 5 Aspergillus fumigatus isolated from equine ulcerative keratitis cases.

Procedure: Fungi were identified by morphology and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with sequencing and evaluated at the University of Texas Fungal Testing Laboratory for susceptibility to three azole antifungals (miconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole), natamycin, and two echinocandins (anidulafungin, caspofungin). Read More

Vet Ophthalmol 2022 Jun 7. Epub 2022 Jun 7.

Dick White Referrals, Cambridge, UK.

Objective: The objective of the study was to compare corneal culture results using the ESwab™ and Amies charcoal swab.

Animals Studied: One hundred fourteen canine and fifteen feline eyes.

Procedures: Retrospective analysis of Dick White Referrals bacterial and fungal corneal culture data was conducted. Read More

Clin Ophthalmol 2022 30;16:1639-1640. Epub 2022 May 30.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S346227. Read More

J Med Virol 2022 Jun 1. Epub 2022 Jun 1.

World Society for Virology, Massachusetts, USA.

A multicountry outbreak of the monkeypox virus has gained global attention. As of May 25, 250 confirmed human monkeypox cases have been reported globally. Monkeypox is caused by the Monkeypox virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus and Poxviridae family. Read More

Indian J Ophthalmol 2022 Jun;70(6):2205

Ophthalmic Biophysics, L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

Indian J Ophthalmol 2022 Jun;70(6):2204

Cataract, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Squint Services, Aravind Eye Hospital and Post Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Pondicherry, India.

Indian J Ophthalmol 2022 Jun;70(6):1990-1996

Department of Medical Microbiology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India.

Purpose: To study the clinical presentation, mycological profile, and risk factors of fungal keratitis (FK) cases presenting at two tertiary-care centers, one each at North (Chandigarh) and Northeast (Assam) India, and to compare the spectrum of fungi recovered from the clinical and environmental samples at both locations.

Methods: All patients with suspected FK were enrolled from both the centers between January 2018 and December 2019. Corneal samples were collected and processed as per standard laboratory protocols. Read More

Indian J Ophthalmol 2022 Jun;70(6):1982-1989

Ophthalmology, Dr R.P. Center for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Purpose: To analyze the pattern of bacterial pathogens causing infective keratitis and their resistance to the recommended antibiotics over six years.

Methods: It was a retrospective study of 9,357 cases of bacterial keratitis from January 2015 to December 2020, at a tertiary care ophthalmic center. A total of 9,547 corneal specimens were obtained from the study subjects. Read More

Eur J Ophthalmol 2022 May 31:11206721221106139. Epub 2022 May 31.

Section of Ophthalmology, Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, 9295University of Bari, Bari, Italy.

Purpose: The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of bacterial and fungal infections of the eye and also to assess the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of bacterial isolates at a tertiary referral eye care hospital in Bari, Italy.

Methods: Two hundred seventy three samples collected during a 2-year observation period. Culture, Gram's stain, potassium hydroxide mount and occasionally Giemsa staining was done for the clinical specimens. Read More

J Mycol Med 2022 May 22;32(4):101298. Epub 2022 May 22.

Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India. Electronic address:

Corynespora cassiicola is an environmental phytopathogen implicated in various human infections and has been isolated from one case of keratitis. We report here the first case of endophthalmitis caused by Corynespora cassiicola in a 54-year-old diabetic patient, who developed diminished vision, redness, and watering in the right eye, six weeks after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide for non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and macular oedema. Direct microscopy of the vitreous tap revealed septate hyphae, and culture grew white mycelium that turned olive-grey to black within two days and was confirmed as C. Read More

Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2022 May 2;77:103692. Epub 2022 May 2.

Department of Ophthalmology, B.P Koirala Lions Center for Ophthalmic Studies, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Introduction: Intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs) can be serious as they may result in vision-threatening ocular inflammations and even loss of the eye. Delay in presentation or treatment by more than 24 hours from the time of injury results in a poor prognosis. In penetrating wounds, microorganisms enter the eye through penetrating objects. Read More

Pol J Microbiol 2022 Mar 14;71(1):55-62. Epub 2022 Mar 14.

Instituto Universitario Fernández-Vega, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain.

The most common causal agents of fungal keratitis are yeasts of the genus. Adhesion constitutes the first stage of pathogenesis. Previous studies have shown that glycosaminoglycans from the corneal cell surface play an essential role in bacterial keratitis, although little is known about their role in fungal infections. Read More

Mycoses 2022 May 27. Epub 2022 May 27.

Global Action For Fungal Infections, Geneva, Switzerland.

The epidemiology of fungal infections in Eritrea is unknown. Most cases are under-reported due to a lack of diagnostics. This study estimates the burden of serious fungal infections and highlights treatment and diagnostic gaps in the country. Read More

Viruses 2022 04 22;14(5). Epub 2022 Apr 22.

Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.

We previously isolated an HSV-1 mutant, KOS-NA, that contains two non-synonymous mutations in UL39. One of the mutations, resulting in an R950H amino acid substitution in ICP6, renders KOS-NA severely neuro-attenuated and significantly reduces HSV-1 latency. Vaccination of mice with KOS-NA prior to corneal challenge provides significant protection against HSV-1-mediated eye diseases even at a very low immunizing dose, indicating its utility as a vaccine scaffold. Read More

J Fungi (Basel) 2022 May 15;8(5). Epub 2022 May 15.

Postgraduate Program in Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology, Biological Sciences, Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba 81531-980, Brazil.

Fungal keratitis is caused by a wide spectrum of fungal genera, including molds and yeasts. We report a 42-year-old patient with mycotic keratitis after a direct trauma by a wood fragment. The fungal isolate was identified as by molecular methods. Read More