Abstract

FARINA, N; SANABRIA, R; GONZALEZ, R  and  RAMIREZ, L. Endophthalmitis caused by fusarium sp. Mem. Inst. Investig. Cienc. Salud [online]. 2002, vol.1, n.1, pp.69-71. ISSN 1812-9528.

The infectious endophthalmitis is uncommon but it is a severe intraocular infection that may occur after surgery, a penetrating trauma or via hematogenous spread and frecuently leads to sight loss. A case of a 16 years old man, who attended the Ofthalmology department of Clinical Hospital due to redness, pain and loss of the visual accutness in the left eye is reported here. Empirical therapy with subconjunctival dexamethasone was started, three days later an ocular ecography was performed establishing the diagnosis of endophthalmitis. Needle aspiration of vitreous and aqueous humors was carried out to perform a microbiological study and amphotericin B, vancomycin, ceftazidime were administered intravitreally. The microscopic examination of vitreous fluid revealed abundants septate hyphal fragments and the culture in Sabouraud + cloramphenicol and mycobiotic agar rendered Fusarium spby colony and morphology characteristics. After one month, therapy with intravenous amphotericin B was started and the lesión improved. Because of its rareness, this c ase in a healthy, inmunocompetent host who did not have an intraocular trauma or surgery is reported. It may be speculated that the patient suffered a trauma without viisible lesion that was favoured for the previous dexamethasone administration.

Keywords : Endophthalmitis; fungal; fusarium sp.

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