Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
addClaim

This Research product is the result of merged Research products in OpenAIRE.

You have already added 0 works in your ORCID record related to the merged Research product.

The challenge of fungal keratitis

Authors: Anusha Kailasanathan; Harminder S Dua; Dalia G Said; Tasneem Khatib; Muneer A. Otri; Ammar Miri;

The challenge of fungal keratitis

Abstract

Worldwide corneal infections are a major cause of unilateral blindness.1 In some parts of the world, fungal infections are commoner than bacterial infections.2 3 The challenge lies not only in the diagnosis but also in appropriate therapy, once diagnosis is established. It becomes more difficult when laboratory tests are inconclusive or do not support the clinical diagnosis and the challenge is greater when the infection is mixed with bacterial or acanthamoeba co-infections.4 One major reason is the restricted availability of commercially available anti-fungal agents for use in the eye. Although the need is great, it is predominantly in the poorer countries of the world where affordability may not recompense the investment required in developing and licensing a drug. Treatment of fungal keratitis is therefore largely dependent on the use of unlicensed or off-label drugs. Susceptibility of common filamentous and yeast species of pathogenic fungi differs and there is no broad spectrum anti-fungal agent available, even among the off-label and unlicensed preparations, that covers most of this range. Treatment therefore has to be commenced on clinical suspicion supported by preliminary diagnostic examination of smears of corneal samples. The PCR test5 can provide a reliable diagnosis in a few hours but is expensive. Culture can take up to 3 weeks and treatment cannot be deferred that long. A reasonable approach would be to use a combination of Econazole 1% (which is more effective against filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus and Fusarium spp.,) and …

Keywords

Keratitis, Antifungal Agents, Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures, Blindness, Drug Administration Schedule, United Kingdom, Debridement, Humans, Injections, Intraocular, Ophthalmic Solutions, Corneal Ulcer, Eye Infections, Fungal

  • BIP!
    Impact byBIP!
    citations
    This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    23
    popularity
    This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
    Top 10%
    influence
    This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    Top 10%
    impulse
    This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
    Top 10%
Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
citations
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
23
Top 10%
Top 10%
Top 10%
Upload OA version
Are you the author? Do you have the OA version of this publication?