Cases of Alternaria alternata and Gibellulopsis nigrescens keratitis

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Abstract

Infectious keratitis is one of the leading causes of vision loss worldwide. The issue of its diagnosis and treatment is urgent, as irreversible complications may occur, including inflammatory corneal opacity, perforation and endophthalmitis, which may lead to vision reduction or loss, decrease in the quality of life of patients, and disability. In the Russian Federation, fungal keratitis pathogens are less common than bacterial and viral ones; however, they account for up to half of all identified cases of infectious keratitis in some countries and lead to poor treatment outcomes. One of the reasons for the late treatment start and, as a result, its longer duration is low awareness of ophthalmologists of the fungal etiology of keratitis. The article describes two clinical cases of patients with infectious keratitis caused by extremely rare pathogens—Alternaria alternata and Gibellulopsis nigrescens—and treated at Saint Petersburg City Multifield Hospital No. 2. The article also provides details of medical history, clinical presentation features, and Investigation results, including direct and fluorescent microscopy and inoculation to selective media with antifungal susceptibility testing. Analysis of these clinical cases showed features of medical history, clinical presentation, and results of pathogen-specific laboratory and instrumental diagnostics.

About the authors

Yelena V. Skryabina

St. Petersburg Multifield Hospital No. 2, Saint Petersburg

Email: scryabelena@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0003-4912-8777

MD

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Ernest V. Boiko

S. Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Federal State Institution, Saint Petersburg Branch; North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov

Email: Ernest.Boiko@szgmu.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7413-7478
SPIN-code: 7589-2512

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg; Saint Petersburg

Natalia V. Vasilyeva

North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov; Kashkin Research Institute of Medical Mycology of North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov

Email: Natalya.vasileva@szgmu.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3693-5468
SPIN-code: 3829-4370

Dr. Sci. (Biology), Professor

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg; Saint Petersburg

Nikolay V. Shchemerov

North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov

Author for correspondence.
Email: Shemerovvv@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9874-6665
SPIN-code: 2430-6810
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Tatiana S. Bogomolova

Kashkin Research Institute of Medical Mycology of North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov

Email: Bogomol52@list.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2450-687X
SPIN-code: 4003-9040

Cand. Sci. (Biology)

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Ilya A. Bosak

Kashkin Research Institute of Medical Mycology of North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov

Email: Ilya.Bosak@szgmu.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0193-9103
SPIN-code: 5699-5857

MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine); Kashkin Research Institute of Medical Mycology

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Irina B. Litvin

North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov

Email: Irina.Litvin@szgmu.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1549-3341
SPIN-code: 5023-5730

MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Emma Zeibel

North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov

Email: zeibel.emma@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0009-0004-7754-7976
SPIN-code: 5708-8260
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Polina O. Tiukanova

North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov

Email: tyukanovapolina@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0004-6794-6973
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Anastasia S. Sidina

North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov

Email: Nastya.sidina@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0000-7720-7737
SPIN-code: 6917-0857
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

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