Case Report: A Rare Fungal Keratitis Caused by Plectosphaerella Cucumerina

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To report a rare case of fungal keratitis caused by Plectosphaerella cucumerina.

Methods

This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of a case of fungal keratitis.

Results

Silt-lamp biomicroscopy revealed corneal infiltration and epithelial defects. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) were performed to assist in the diagnosis and evaluate corneal conditions. The isolate was identified as Plectosphaerella cucumerina by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The patient was treated with topical 5% pimaricin and oral voriconazole for 1 month and recovered.

Conclusion

Fungal keratitis caused by Plectosphaerella cucumerina is rare. AS-OCT and IVCM can help locate the lesion and diagnose fungal keratitis. Furthermore, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry showed potential prospects in the identification of filamentous fungi. Plectosphaerella cucumerina rarely infects humans and is sensitive to antifungal agents such as pimaricin and voriconazole.

KEYWORDS:

• Fungal keratitis
• Plectosphaerella cucumerina
• MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry
• IVCM
• pimaricin

Consent for publication

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for scientific publication.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This project was supported by the Peking University People’s Hospital Scientific Research Development Funds (RDX2020–03)