Classical pathology of sympathetic ophthalmia presented in a unique case

Scedosporiosis and lomentosporiosis: modern perspectives on these difficult-to-treat rare mold infections

SUMMARYAlthough Scedosporium species and Lomentospora prolificans are uncommon causes of invasive fungal diseases (IFDs), these infections are associated with high mortality and are costly to treat with a limited armamentarium of antifungal drugs. In light of recent advances, including in the area of new antifungals, the present review provides a timely and updated overview of these IFDs, with a focus on the taxonomy, clinical epidemiology, pathogenesis and host immune response, disease manifestations, diagnosis, antifungal susceptibility, and treatment. An expansion of hosts at risk for these difficult-to-treat infections has emerged over the last two decades given the increased use of, and broader population treated with, immunomodulatory and targeted molecular agents as well as wider adoption of antifungal prophylaxis. Clinical presentations differ not only between genera but also across the different Scedosporium species. L. prolificans is intrinsically resistant to most currently available antifungal agents, and the prognosis of immunocompromised patients with lomentosporiosis is poor. Development of, and improved access to, diagnostic modalities for early detection of these rare mold infections is paramount for timely targeted antifungal therapy and surgery if indicated. New antifungal agents (e.g., olorofim, fosmanogepix) with novel mechanisms of action and less cross-resistance to existing classes, availability of formulations for oral administration, and fewer drug-drug interactions are now in late-stage clinical trials, and soon, could extend options to treat scedosporiosis/lomentosporiosis. Much work remains to increase our understanding of these infections, especially in the pediatric setting. Knowledge gaps for future research are highlighted in the review.

Fungal osteomyelitis and septic arthritis in an immune competent man: The first report of invasive osteoarticular infection due to Scedosporium dehoogii

Invasive osteoarticular infections (IOI) due to Scedosporium spp. are rare in the immune competent patient, but have been associated with direct inoculation from antecedent trauma. Here we describe a case of IOI due to Scedosporium dehoogii in a previously healthy man. The clinical presentation and the diagnosis and treatment is discussed. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of IOI caused by S. dehoogii.

Sympathetic ophthalmia: Report of a case series and comprehensive review of the literature

PURPOSE

To evaluate the factors related to sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) in a series of patients in our ophthalmology center and previously published cases.

METHODS

A retrospective and noncomparative review was performed on 16 patients with SO attending our ophthalmology center from 2013 to 2019. A total of 87 previously published cases of SO were identified by searching the Medline database from 2009 to 2019.

RESULTS

Sixteen patients were included in the analysis, and six cases were induced by transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TCP). All patients had achieved controlled inflammation at their last follow-up visit. Thirteen patients (81.3%) had improved best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). A review of the literature revealed 87 previously reported cases of SO. Shared clinical features and treatment outcomes were summarized.

CONCLUSION

Ocular therapies, including both penetrating ocular therapy and non-penetrating ocular intervention, have become increasingly prevalent risk factors for SO, and the latent period has increased compared to past reports. Visual prognosis with appropriate medical management is relatively good.

Invasive Scedosporium spp. and Lomentospora prolificans infections in pediatric patients: Analysis of 55 cases from FungiScope® and the literature

OBJECTIVES

Current knowledge on infections caused by Scedosporium spp. and Lomentospora prolificans in children is scarce. We therefore aim to provide an overview of risk groups, clinical manifestation and treatment strategies of these infections.

METHODS

Pediatric patients (age ≤18 years) with proven/probable Scedosporium spp. or L. prolificans infection were identified in PubMed and the FungiScope® registry. Data on diagnosis, treatment and outcome were collected.

RESULTS

Fifty-five children (median age 9 years [IQR: 5-14]) with invasive Scedosporium spp. (n = 33) or L. prolificans (n = 22) infection were identified between 1990 and 2019. Malignancy, trauma and near drowning were the most common risk factors. Infections were frequently disseminated. Most patients received systemic antifungal therapy, mainly voriconazole and amphotericin B, plus surgical treatment. Overall, day 42 mortality was 31%, higher for L. prolificans (50%) compared to Scedosporium spp. (18%). L. prolificans infection was associated with a shorter median survival time compared to Scedosporium spp. (6 days [IQR: 3-28] versus 61 days [IQR: 16-148]). Treatment for malignancy and severe disseminated infection were associated with particularly poor outcome (HR 8.33 [95% CI 1.35-51.40] and HR 6.12 [95% CI 1.52-24.66], respectively). Voriconazole use at any time and surgery for antifungal treatment were associated with improved clinical outcome (HR 0.33 [95% CI 0.11-0.99] and HR 0.09 [95% CI 0.02-0.40], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Scedosporium spp. and L. prolificans infections in children are associated with high mortality despite comprehensive antifungal therapy. Voriconazole usage and surgical intervention are associated with successful outcome.

The long-term monitoring of sympathetic ophthalmia in the diagnostic and terapeutic view. Review Department of Ophthalmology

AIM

To evaluate options of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures of sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) compared with literature data. Backgroud: SO is an ocular autoimmune disease. It is characterized by disbalance in the imunoregulatory T-subsets within cell mediated immune response.

METHODS

File examination of SO by evaluation humoral and cellular immunity was ranked nukleolar test (NT). It evaulates the current status of lymphocyte activation based on the nucleolar morphology and RNA transcription aktivity. The classical histological examination was supported by immunohistochemical analysis of lymphocytic subpopulations in the eyeball enucleated for. SO in one case.

MATERIAL

Five boys and men overall were monitored and treated in two studies from 1979 to 1994 and from 1999 to 2017 with SO In four cases it was subsequent after penetrating injuries and once after lensectomy with vitrectomy. The age of patients in the time of onset of SO was between 4 and 24 years (average 12 years). The time interval between insult and onset of SO varied between 10 days and 3 months (average 1.7 months). The relaps of disease appeared in the all cases in the time interval from 3 months to 38 years (average 15 years). Another two patients with SO were examined only in consultation: 16 years old boy with relaps of SO after cataract extraction and 71 years old women with SO subsequent after lensectomy and vitrectomy. There was examined and compared group of 19 patients with other types of uveitis in the same time. The lens-associated uveitis were caused after ocular contusion and penetrating eye injury in 16 patients (13 male patients). In another three cases (young women) with uveitid underlined by II. or III. type of hypersenzitivity the enucleation of dolorous eyeball calmed down the secondary uveitis on their second eye without any change of immunosupressive treatment and without change in NT.

RESULTS

There were changes in the complex immunological laboratory tests results in the SO cases in the counts of activated lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. The count of activated lymphocytes was increased in SO cases unlike in lens-associated uveitis. There was detected in NT statistically significant difference (p = 0,0134) between the two groups of uveitis. The histological examination (5 eyes with SO and 7 eyes without sympathetic uveitis) confirmed the diagnoses, supporting basically the clinical diagnosis. The immunohistochemical examination corfirmed the presence of populations of T-lymphocytes, macrophages and also B-lymphocytes. A basis of immunosuppressive therapy was the combination of prednisone and azathioprin at the first time. Effective therapy featured cyklosporine later.

CONCLUSION

The nucleolar test of lymphocytes draws attention of their up-to-day increased activity without the diferentiation of subpopulations and their absolute number increase related to the current activation of type IV. hypersensitivity (cell-mediated) in uveitis mechanism. The immunosupressive therapy calmes down this activation predominantly in SO, but also in other case sof uveitis with different types of hypersensivity. The immunohistochemical examination illustrates different presence of lymphocytic types according to the stage of SO.

Prevention of Evisceration or Enucleation in Endogenous Bacterial Panophthalmitis with No Light Perception and Scleral Abscess

Panophthalmitis is the most extensive ocular involvement in endophthalmitis with inflammation in periocular tissues. Severe inflammation of the anterior and posterior segments is frequently accompanied by corneal opacity, scleral abscess, and perforation or rupture. Enucleation or evisceration was the only remaining viable treatment option when all options to salvage the eye had been exhausted. The purpose of this retrospective study is to examine the outcomes of patients with endogenous bacterial panophthalmitis, no light perception and scleral abscess who were treated with multiple intravitreal and periocular injections of antibiotics and dexamethasone. Evaluation included spreading of infection to contiguous or remote sites, following evisceration or enucleation, and sympathetic ophthalmia. Eighteen patients were diagnosed with EBP, with liver abscesses in eight patients, retroperitoneal infection in four, pneumonia in two, infective endocarditis in one, cellulitis in one, drug abuse in one, and mycotic pseudoaneurysm in one. Culture results were positive for Klebsiella pneumoniae in 12 patients, Streptococcus spp. in three, Pseudomonas aeruginosa in one, Escherichia coli in one, and Staphylococcus aureus in one. The average number of periocular injections was 2.2, and the average number of intravitreal injections was 5.8. No eye required evisceration or enucleation and developed the spreading of infection to contiguous or remote sites during the follow-up. No sympathetic ophthalmia was observed in the fellow eye of all patients. Prevention of evisceration or enucleation in patients with EBP, NLP and scleral abscess can be achieved by multiple intravitreal and periocular injections of antibiotics and dexamethasone.

[Sympathetic ophthalmia : Therapy with steroid-free immunosuppressant azathioprine]

This article describes the case of a 48-year-old male patient who presented with persistent inflammation and deterioration of vision to a best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 0.6 in the only functioning left eye. The right eye had suffered a severe penetrating ocular trauma 6 months prior to presentation. After diagnosis of a sympathetic ophthalmia a high dosage corticosteroid therapy was initiated. Due to intolerance with decompensating diabetes an immunosuppressive therapy with azathioprine was initiated. This therapy resulted in stable clinical findings with an increase in BCVA to 0.9.