PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Luigi Fontana
AU  - Antonio Moramarco
AU  - Erika Mandarà
AU  - Giuseppe Russello
AU  - Alfonso Iovieno
TI  - Interface infectious keratitis after anterior and posterior lamellar keratoplasty. Clinical features and treatment strategies. A review
AID  - 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2018-312938
DP  - 2019 Mar 01
TA  - British Journal of Ophthalmology
PG  - 307--314
VI  - 103
IP  - 3
4099  - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/103/3/307.short
4100  - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/103/3/307.full
SO  - Br J Ophthalmol2019 Mar 01; 103
AB  - Interface infectious keratitis (IIK) is a novel corneal infection that may develop after any type of lamellar keratoplasty. Onset of infection occurs in the virtual space between the graft and the host where it may remain localised until spreading with possible risk of endophthalmitis. A literature review identified 42 cases of IIK. Thirty-one of them occurred after endothelial keratoplasty and 12 after deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty. Fungi in the form of Candida species were the most common microorganisms involved, with donor to host transmission of infection documented in the majority of cases. Donor rim cultures were useful to address the infectious microorganisms within few days after surgery. Due to the sequestered site of infection, medical treatment, using both topical and systemic antimicrobials drugs, was ineffective on halting the progression of the infection. Injection of antifungals, right at the graft–host interface, was reported successful in some cases. Spreading of the infection with development of endophthalmitis occurred in five cases after Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty with severe sight loss in three cases. Early excisional penetrating keratoplasty showed to be the treatment with the highest therapeutic efficacy, lowest rate of complications and greater visual outcomes.