Efficacy of topical caspofungin in experimental fusarium keratitis

• Published in: Cornea Vol. 26; no. 6; p. 726
• Main Authors: Ozturk, Faruk, Yavas, Guliz Fatma, Kusbeci, Tuncay, Cetinkaya, Zafer, Inan, Umit Ubeyt, Ermis, Sitki Samet, Kiraz, Nuri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.07.2007
• Subjects: Administration, Topical; Amphotericin B - administration & dosage; Amphotericin B - therapeutic use; Animals; Antifungal Agents - administration & dosage; Antifungal Agents - therapeutic use; Corneal Ulcer - drug therapy; Corneal Ulcer - microbiology; Disease Models, Animal; Echinocandins; Eye Infections, Fungal - drug therapy; Eye Infections, Fungal - microbiology; Fusarium - isolation & purification; Lipopeptides; Mycoses - drug therapy; Mycoses - microbiology; Peptides, Cyclic - administration & dosage; Peptides, Cyclic - therapeutic use; Rabbits; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0277-3740
• DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0b013e3180553b9d

To evaluate the efficacy of caspofungin in an experimental rabbit model of Fusarium keratitis and to compare it with amphotericin B. Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 2 treatment groups and 1 control group. One cornea of each rabbit was inoculated with Fusarium solani spores. The first group received topical amphotericin B 0.15%, the second group received topical caspofungin 1%, and the control group received topical balanced salt solution hourly for 2 days and then 4 times daily for 3 additional days. Treatment effects were evaluated by clinical assessment at days 3 and 5 and by fungal culture after 5 days of treatment. In the treatment groups, progression of keratitis was inhibited, and cultures were sterile at the end of the study. In the control group, keratitis progressed, and cultures were positive for F. solani. Topical caspofungin is effective in Fusarium keratitis, and clinical efficacy studies seem justified.