Diagnostic Utility of CDC DPDx for an Atypical Presentation of Infectious Crystalline Keratopathy-Like Infiltrate Secondary to Microsporidia

Purpose: To report a case of atypical infectious crystalline keratopathy-like stromal infection secondary to microsporidia wherein diagnosis of the causative organism was aided by use of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) DPDx program.

Methods: We report the case of a 73-year-old woman who presented with atypical infectious crystalline keratopathy-like corneal infection without previous surgical history.

Results: The patient had previously been treated for recalcitrant corneal infection with topical antibiotics and steroids at an outside provider before referral. Further treatment with topical fortified antibiotics failed to improve the infection. Corneal biopsy was performed and sent to the CDC DPDx for diagnostic confirmation for presumptive microsporidia. The patient underwent therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty without recurrence of ocular infection.

Conclusions: Utilization of the DPDx resource may help guide appropriate and timely diagnosis and management strategies in atypical presentations of infectious keratitis.