Abstract
Two cases of keratomycosis, a 35 y.o. male and a 65 y.o. female, were reported. Both developed corneal ulcers and the fungal elements were observed by direct examination. Cultures of the corneal scraping revealed Fusarium solani and Alternaria alternate, respectively. Treatments with topical amphotericin B for the former and oral ketoconazole for the latter were both beneficial.
More than 250 cases of keratomycosis were reported in Japan as of 1988 ; among these the diagnoses were myco logically confirmed in 86 cases. Statistical analysis of these “reliable” cases showed that almost all were over 40 years old. More than 20 species of the fungi were isolated and Fusarium species was the one most frequently found.
MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) determination was performed using pimaricin, amphotericin B, miconazole and ketoconazole against the two isolates from our cases, and pimaricin and amphotericin B proved much more effective than the other two. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the MIC value was lower (that is, more effective) when the MIC determination was done under a temperature and pH close to that of the physiological human body.
