Severe Arthrographis kalrae keratomycosis in an immunocompetent patient.

PURPOSE: To describe a severe case of keratomycosis caused by Arthrographis kalrae requiring repeated keratoplasty.

METHODS

A 42-year-old otherwise healthy soft contact lens wearer developed a unilateral central corneal ulcer. Treatment with topical and systemic voriconazole is described.

RESULTS

Repeated microbiological testing of ocular swabs (culture) initially yielded Candida albicans. Under treatment with topical clotrimazole, the ulcer progressed, and a corneal perforation required a keratoplasty à chaud. For prophylaxis, the patient received fluconazole systemically and continuous topical clotrimazole. However, in 2 weeks time, the mycotic infiltrates penetrated the corneal transplant and led to a second keratoplasty only 1 month after the first one. In the meantime, the microbiological analysis of the first keratoplasty revealed A. kalrae, which was sensitive to voriconazole. High-dose serum level-controlled systemic voriconazole and topical voriconazole were able to stabilize, but not eliminate the infection. About 1 year after the start of the voriconazole therapy, treatment had to be discontinued because of side effects. Mycotic infiltrates increased, and even an intracameral voriconazole injection could not prevent a third and a fourth keratoplasty.

CONCLUSIONS

Ocular infection with A. kalrae is very rare. The microbiological differentiation of A. kalrae can be difficult. Because a broad spectrum of fungi is sensitive to voriconazole, the early topical and possibly systemic treatment is a reasonable therapeutic option when a mycotic infection of the eye is suspected, even before the causative fungus is identified.