Ocular Basidiobolomycosis: A Case Report

BACKGROUND: Ocular basidiobolomycosis is an unusual infection caused by fungus of the order Entomophthorales. This fungus has been previously reported as a common cause of skin, subcutaneous, and gastrointestinal tract infection. The fungus isolation and its typical characteristics are clues for diagnosis of this uncommon pathogen. CASE REPORT: A 47-year-old male patient with nodular scleritis in the left eye after an eye injury from sawdust was treated as bacterial scleritis. The lesion improved with early surgical drainage and antibacterial therapy; then, he was discharged from the hospital. Thereafter, the patient was re-admitted due to progression of infectious scleritis with keratitis and orbital cellulitis. Surgical abscess drainage was performed again. The microbiological study demonstrated Basidiobolus ranarum. The patient was treated with topical ketoconazole, subconjunctival fluconazole injection, and oral itraconazole with partial response to the treatment. However, the patient eventually denied any further treatment and did not return for follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: B. ranarum is a rare pathogen of ocular infection in which a definite diagnosis requires isolation of the causative organism. Delay in diagnosis and appropriate treatment can lead to extension of the infection and poor outcomes.