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Infectious keratitis: new concepts for old enemies
Author(s) -
Pirani V.,
Cesari C.,
Carrozzi G.,
Lassandro N.,
Calamita R.,
Neri P.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2017.03551
Subject(s) - keratitis , acanthamoeba , endophthalmitis , streptococcus pneumoniae , pseudomonas aeruginosa , medicine , staphylococcus aureus , perforation , corneal perforation , microbiology and biotechnology , antibiotic resistance , antibiotics , biology , cornea , dermatology , ophthalmology , bacteria , genetics , materials science , metallurgy , punching
Summary Microbial keratitis ( MK ) represents one of the main causes of blindness in the world due to corneal scarring, perforation and endophthalmitis. MK remains a challenging public health concern with the need for more effective treatments. Since resistance to therapies has developed over time to several pathogens, ophthalmologists should pay attention to diagnostic procedures. In order to achieve such goal, animal models and novel studies on disease signaling pathways and pathogenesis have given new therapeutic targets. The most common agents include bacteria (ie: Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Serratia species), fungi (ie: Fusarium, Aspergillus and Candida species), and protists, such as Acanthamoeba spp. Several innovative treatments have been proposed, such as lipid based therapy and micro RNA based therapies. Corneal cross‐linking might become an alternative to standard antibiotic therapy for treatment of bacterial and fungal corneal infections, decreasing microbial resistance to antibiotics and other drugs. Moreover, deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty ( DALK ) seems to be more appropriate in herpetic infections than perforating keratoplasty ( PK ).