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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, July 2003, p. 3358-3360, Vol. 41, No. 7
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.7.3358-3360.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Rapid Molecular Diagnosis of Posttraumatic Keratitis and Endophthalmitis Caused by Alternaria infectoria

Consuelo Ferrer,1* Javier Montero,2 Jorge L. Alió,2,3 José L. Abad,2 José M. Ruiz-Moreno,2,3 and Francisca Colom4

Departamento de Biología Molecular,1 Instituto Oftalmológico de Alicante, 03015 Alicante,2 Patología y Cirugía-División Oftalmología,3 División Microbiología, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus San Juan, 03550 Alicante, Spain4

Received 19 November 2002/ Returned for modification 25 January 2003/ Accepted 2 April 2003

The first case of Alternaria infectoria ocular infection is reported. Keratitis and endophthalmitis developed after eye-perforating trauma from a lemon tree branch. Two months after surgery and empirical steroid and antibiotic treatment, diagnosis by molecular methods was performed. PCR amplification was positive for a fungus after 4 h. Antifungal treatment with amphotericin B and fluconazole was initiated immediately. DNA sequence analysis showed Alternaria infectoria to be the causal agent. After topical and systemic administration of antifungal treatment, ocular inflammation disappeared and visual acuity improved. DNA typing was found to be a useful tool to achieve early identification of the causal agent.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Dpto. Biología Molecular, Instituto Oftalmológico de Alicante, Avenida de Denia n° 111, 03015 Alicante, Spain. Phone: 34 965 154062. Fax: 34 965 160468. E-mail: cferrer{at}oftalio.com.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, July 2003, p. 3358-3360, Vol. 41, No. 7
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.7.3358-3360.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Ferrer, C., Perez-Santonja, J. J., Rodriguez, A. E., Colom, M. F., Gene, J., Alio, J. L., Verkley, G. J. M., Guarro, J. (2009). New Pyrenochaeta Species Causing Keratitis. J. Clin. Microbiol. 47: 1596-1598 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Lo Cascio, G., Ligozzi, M., Maccacaro, L., Fontana, R. (2004). Utility of Molecular Identification in Opportunistic Mycotic Infections: a Case of Cutaneous Alternaria infectoria Infection in a Cardiac Transplant Recipient. J. Clin. Microbiol. 42: 5334-5336 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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