A Fungal Keratitis Case Caused by Fusarium solani

Fungal keratitis, an eye infection with poor prognosis, is difficult to treat and it can cause vision loss. Fusarium species are soil saphrophyte, facultatively anaerobic fungi and they can cause infection and toxicosis in humans and animals. It’s generally the second most common cause of mold infections in humans, after Aspergillus but it can be different according to center. Filamentous fungi, widely distributed in nature can cause serious oppurtunistic infections, especially in patients who have certain risk factors. Trauma with vegetative or organic materials, broad spectrum antibiotic or steroid usage, previous eye surgery, contact lens usage, ocular surface disease, immundeficiency status and diabetes disease are some of the risk factors causing fungal keratitis development. Topical antifungal agents are often used in the treatment of keratitis. In recent years, successful treatments with topical and oral voriconazole are reported. We aimed to report a case of keratitis caused by Fusarium solani in a 34-year-old immunocompetent male patient who had refractive surgery

Evaluation of Microbial Contamination of Glucometers and Glucose Test Strips Used in the Hospital

Introduction: The role of non-critical inanimate objects in bacterial transmission in the hospital setting is still debated. The aim of this study was to establish the possible presence of known bacterial pathogens on the surface of glucometers and glucose test strips. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 samples, including 68 glucometer surface swabs and 52 glucose test strips, were collected from various hospital patient care areas. Results: Of these 68 glucometers tested, 64 (94.1%) yielded positive culture, whereas 43 (82.6%) of 52 strips yielded positive cultures. Conclusion: Following the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for diabetes care procedures, our study concludes that medical equipment such as glucometers and glucose test strips should not be used for more than one patient because of possible transmission of potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Individually packaged test strips should be used to minimize the contamination risk in hospital setting

Quality Control of the Qualitative Real Time PCR Method for the Detection of Aspergillus DNA in Clinical Samples

Introduction: The culture of clinical samples is positive in only 50% of the aspergillosis cases. In most neutropenic fever patients, antifungal treatment is generally commenced based on empirical considerations and reduces the growth rates in microbiological cultures. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening for circulating DNA is not related to treatment in order for the DNA to be detected under antifungal effect. We evaluated the utility of qualitative real time PCR assay for the detection of Aspergillus DNA. Materials and Methods: DNA isolation was performed without a commercial system. The presence of DNA from the samples was detected using TaqMan PCR targeting fungal 28S rDNA gene. Diagnostic approach of the assay was evaluated by using different samples. Sixty samples including blood samples contaminated with Aspergillus conidia, colony suspensions, tissue and blood samples of experimentally infected animals, and patient samples obtained from suspected cases were subjected to testing. Results: False negative results were obtained from tissue samples of experimentally infected animals. When the results were analysed, 4 (40%) of the tissue samples, 3 (30%) of the blood samples, 2 (20%) of the simulated blood samples, and 1 (10%) of the patient samples failed to achieve the same level of detection. Colony suspensions were found to be all positive (100%). Conclusion: The efficiency of the Aspergillus PCR is limited in tissue samples, but sufficient in blood samples, and should be qualified to exclude false negativity. Clinical studies with large number of samples should be initiated to integrate PCR in the diagnostic armentarium of aspergillosis

Impact of Iontophoresis and PACK-CXL Corneal Concentrations of Antifungals in an In Vivo Model

Purpose: To investigate voriconazole (VRZ) penetration and fungal load in the cornea after applying VRZ therapy with various treatment combinations in a fungal keratitis model. Methods: Fifty-four eyes of 27 young albino rabbits were provided for this experimental study. Twelve corneas were inoculated with Candida albicans, 12 corneas were inoculated with Fusarium solani, and 6 eyes were selected as controls. Infected corneas received various treatment combinations including VRZ 1% drop therapy alone, VRZ 1% plus amphotericin B 1% drop combination therapy, iontophoretic VRZ therapy, and VRZ 1% drop therapy after corneal cross-linking. Fungal load was measured by log reduction, and VRZ levels were quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Iontophoresis-assisted VRZ application showed the highest antifungal activity against F. solani keratitis (4-log reduction) and C. albicans keratitis (5-log reduction) compared with other treatment applications. VRZ levels were also found to be the highest in corneas that received iontophoretic VRZ treatment (3.6313 +/- 0.0990 ppb for F.solani keratitis and 1.7001 +/- 0.0065 ppb for C. albicans keratitis) compared with other treatment applications. Conclusions: Iontophoresis seems to provide the highest VRZ concentration and highest antifungal activity in the cornea compared with other treatment applications for C. albicans and F. solani keratitis

First multicentre report of in vitro resistance rates in candidaemia isolates in Turkey

Objectives: This study investigated the antifungal resistance rates of isolates from candidaemia patients in 12 tertiary-care centres in Turkey