Outbreak of contact lens-related Fusarium keratitis in France.

Background/aims: In the context of a recent series of Fusarium keratitis cases in Singapore and the United States, we describe an outbreak of fungal keratitis attributable to Fusarium species among contact lens wearers in France.

Methods: Hospital-based case series. All cases of Fusarium keratitis diagnosed in Department of Ophthalmology of the Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts in Paris were reviewed from January 2004 through November 2006. A standardized telephone interview was conducted to obtain additional clinical information for research and the analysis of risk factors.

Results: During the study period, 17 patients (18 affected eyes) were diagnosed with Fusarium keratitis. The vast majority (14 patients, 82%) wore contact lenses. Six patients (43% of contact lens wearers) reported using ReNu with MoistureLoc. Eight patients reported using others brands of contact lens cleaning solution. The final best corrected visual acuity ranged from 20/20 to light perception; 5 patients (29.5%) required emergency therapeutic or tectonic corneal transplantation. No specific differences including Fusarium species or severity of keratitis were found between keratitis with ReNu MoistureLoc and keratitis without ReNu MoistureLoc.

Conclusions: This series reports the first outbreak of Fusarium keratitis in Europe. Once again, ReNu with MoistureLoc, a multipurpose lens disinfecting solutions seems to be related with Fusarium keratitis.