Severe pigmented keratitis caused by Cladorrhinum bulbillosum
We report a case of severe pigmented keratitis with poor prognosis, caused by Cladorrhinum bulbillosum. Antifungal treatment with topical natamycin and fluconazole eye drops and oral tablet fluconazole failed to heal the ulcer and resulted in perforation. The causative fungus, C. bulbillosum, was identified on the basis of its typical microscopic features and 98#x0025; sequence homology to ex-type isolate CBS 304.90 (accession no. FM955448). The results of an in vitro antifungal susceptibility test indicated that the isolate was susceptible to natamycin, amphotericin B, fluconazole and itraconazole. The present case is the third case of keratitis and the second case of human keratitis. Compromised immunity due to liver cirrhosis could lead to a failed prognosis even when the fungal isolat...

Iliopsoas abscess caused by Aspergillus fumigatus complicated by pulmonary aspergillosis
We report a case of iliopsoas abscess caused by Aspergillus fumigatus with pulmonary complications. A 60-year-old man was admitted to the Showa University Hospital Department of Gastroenterology with fulminant hepatitis B on April 14, 2010, and treated with steroids. Although fulminant hepatitis B was improved by steroid and symptomatic therapy, he developed a fever on hospital day 39. The chest X-ray film showed a nodular lesion in the right middle-lower lung field, and both the (1nbsp;→nbsp;3)-β-d-glucan and Candida mannan antigen tests were positive. The β-d-glucan level increased despite treatment with fluconazole and other drugs, including low-dose micafungin. Abdominal computed tomography showed a low-density area in the right iliopsoas muscle. He was then referred to the D...