Aspergillus spp

Record number: 
2
Adverse Occurrence type: 
MPHO Type: 
Alerting signals, symptoms, evidence of occurrence: 
3 cases of fungal infection transmitted by penetrating keratoplasty (PK) were found in a review of 3000 PK procedures, one of 3 being Aspergillus flavius. Aspergillus nidulans was responsible for one of three post-corneal lamellar transplant fungal infections but no pretransplant samples were cultured. They then cultured over 100 stored eyes and found nearly 30% contaminated by fungi.
Demonstration of imputability or root cause: 
Aspergillus flavius - definite, organism recovered from cornea (before use) and from patient. Aspergillus nidulans - inconclusive, no donor tissue tested.