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Fungal Eye Infections: New Hosts, Novel Emerging Pathogens but No New Treatments?

  • Advances in Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Infections (S Chen, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

We sought to explore the current incidence and associated risk factors associated with fungal eye infections. We also reviewed new diagnostic strategies and recent clinical studies exploring the use of topical and oral antifungal agents.

Recent Findings

Incidence and associated risks continue to vary with geographic region, and access to timely healthcare. Nosocomial fungal endophthalmitis can result from minor surgical procedures to the eye. Molecular methods offer increasing diagnostic utility. Clinical treatment studies have mainly focussed on the treatment of fungal keratitis and have been conducted in South Asia. Topical natamycin remains superior to topical reconstituted voriconazole and remains the preferred therapy including for Fusarium eye infections. Neither adjunctive oral ketoconazole nor oral voriconazole has been shown to have added clear benefit to topical treatment.

Summary

Larger international studies with more heterogenous populations are required for future clinical studies which should include patients with contact lens fungal keratitis and those with fungal endophthalmitis. Basic science studies exploring the immunology of fungal eye infections and drug levels to understand the differences in clinical outcomes are encouraged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

    Christina C. Chang

  2. Marie Bashir Institute for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    Sharon C-A Chen

  3. Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, ICPMR, New South Wales Health Pathology, Westmead Hospital, 3rd Level, ICPMR Building, Darcy Road, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia

    Sharon C-A Chen

Authors
  1. Christina C. Chang
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  2. Sharon C-A Chen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sharon C-A Chen.

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Conflict of Interest

Christina C. Chang declares no conflict of interest. Sharon C-A Chen has received grant funding from MSD (AUS).

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Advances in Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Infections

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Chang, C.C., Chen, S.CA. Fungal Eye Infections: New Hosts, Novel Emerging Pathogens but No New Treatments?. Curr Fungal Infect Rep 12, 66–70 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12281-018-0315-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12281-018-0315-z

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