Exserohilum rostratum Keratitis in a Patient with Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Purpose: To report a case of fungal keratitis infected by Exserohilum rostratum in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patient. Method: A retrospective study of the HIV patient with keratomycosis caused by E. rostratum was reviewed for history, clinical characteristics, risk factors, laboratory findings, treatments, and outcomes. Results: A 48-year-old man with HIV infection presented with a history of trauma with an unknown species of insect in the right eye. He also had redness and blurred vision in the right eye. Biomicroscopic examination showed white infiltrate in the right cornea. A feathery edge, satellite lesion, and brownish pigmented deposits in the epithelial surface and anterior stroma were noted. Corneal scraping specimen showed numerous large dematiaceous septate hyphae and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) identified E. rostratum. Treatment was started with 5% natamycin eyedrops and oral itraconazole. The corneal lesion responded well to medication and debridement. Conclusions: Corneal phaeohyphomycosis caused by Exserohilum was noted in an immunocompromised patient with ocular trauma. A brown pigmented lesion in an otherwise white infiltrate due to Exserohilum was diagnosed with corneal scrapings and polymerase chain reaction. Antifungal medications and debridement were the mainstay of corneal fungal infection treatment. (C) 2019 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel