Aims: To report the clinical and diagnostic findings of a patient with Acanthamoeba keratitis resistant to both polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB)-hexamidine and chlorhexidine-hexamidine treatment. Methods: Slit-lamp biomicroscopy, corneal cell scraping and histopathology were performed on a 39-year-old woman presenting with corneal ulcer in her left eye. Results: The patient was successfully treated with PHMB-chlorhexidine association therapy. Subsequent perforating keratoplasty remained clear at the last follow-up visit after 7 months and increased visual acuity to 20/20 with correction. Conclusions: This case emphasizes the proteiform aspects of Acanthamoeba drug resistance, and suggests that PHMB-chlorhexidine association might represent an additional option for cases resistant to standard therapy.

Keywords:
Acanthamoeba keratitis, Biguanide, Diamidine
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel
2011
Open Access License / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Open Access License: This is an Open Access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported license (CC BY-NC) (www.karger.com/OA-license), applicable to the online version of the article only. Distribution permitted for non-commercial purposes only.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License .
Attribution-NonCommercial