Ocular Microbiology and Immunology Group
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2013 OMIG Abstract 6

Curvularia Endophthalmitis: a 32-Year Review
Aleksandra V. Rachitskaya, MD¹, Ashvini K. Reddy, MD¹, Darlene Miller, DHSc, MPH¹,
Janet Davis, MD¹, Harry W. Flynn, Jr., MD¹, William Smiddy, MD¹, Wilfredo Lara, MD²,
Selina Lin, MD³, Sander Dubovy, MD¹, Thomas A. Albini, MD^1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL; ²Retina Specialists of South Florida, Miami, FL; ³Kaufman Eye Institute, Zephyrhills, FL

Purpose: To report retrospective case series of five cases of endophthalmitis caused by Curvularia species.

Methods: To identify cases of Curvularia endophthalmitis, a review of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Microbiology Laboratory archived results for the last 32 years (01/01/1980 to 12/31/2012) was performed. Data collected included patients’ demographic information, etiology of endophthalmitis, presenting features, time from the inciting event to presentation, time from the inciting event to diagnosis, treatment course, time from the inciting event to eradication, number of recurrences, area of organism sequestration, and final visual outcome.

Results: Five patients with Curvularia endophthalmitis were identified: four after cataract surgery and one after trauma. The diagnosis was established rapidly in the trauma case. In the postoperative cases, the time from the surgery to first symptoms ranged from 2 to 5 months. The time from the surgery to correct diagnosis ranged from 7 to 19 months. The time from the surgery to eradication ranged from 8 to 25 months. Despite aggressive antifungal therapy, eradication of the infection could be achieved only by identification and removal of the nidus of sequestration.

Conclusion: In Curvularia endophthalmitis cases, the diagnosis and treatment are often delayed especially in the post-operative cases. The eradication of the organism requires identification and removal of the nidus of sequestration.

Disclosure: This research is funded in part by NIH Center Core Grant P30EY014801, Research to Prevent Blindness Unrestricted Grant, Department of Defense (DODGrant# W81XWH-09-1-0675).

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