Beauveria bassiana keratitis – the first Hungarian case report

Abstract

The Beauveria bassiana-induced fungal keratitis is a rare but severe ocular infection that may result in significant vision impairment without proper treatment. Here we present a case of a 46-year-old Hungarian male patient who developed keratitis following contact lens use and gardening activities. The patient’s medical history included hypertension and type 2 diabetes, which may have contributed to the infection’s onset. Clinical examination revealed severe vision loss, pain, and photophobia, with signs indicative of corneal hyphal infection. Microbiological tests confirmed the presence of B. bassiana, identified using MALDI-TOF MS techniques. Following the failure of initial antibiotic treatment, local antifungal therapy (nystatin eye ointment and propamidine isethionate eye drops) was administered, resulting in significant vision improvement over three months. Timely recognition and targeted treatment of B. bassiana keratitis are crucial for successful disease management. The significance of this case lies in the fact that this pathogen has not been previously documented in Hungary, highlighting the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of rare opportunistic fungal infections.