A patient who wears long-term contact lenses comes to her physician after noting a small spot on her cornea. Collection of the lesion for culture produced a fast-growing mold with a slight pink color on the surface. Microscopic review showed the following organism. This organism is most likely

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fast-growing mold with a slight pink color on the surface suggests Fusarium spp. as the most likely organism. Fusarium is a filamentous fungus that is a frequent cause of fungal keratitis in contact lens wearers. Sporothrix schenckii causes sporotrichosis, which is usually associated with skin lesions rather than corneal involvement. Mucor spp. is a type of mold that can cause invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised patients, but is unlikely to cause corneal lesions. Geotrichum spp. is a rare cause of fungal infections and is not typically associated with corneal disease.

A Patient Who Wears Long-Term Contact Lenses Comes to Her