Regional spread of contact lens-related Acanthamoeba keratitis in Italy.

Acanthamoeba ocular infections, known as Acanthamoeba keratitis, are an emerging problem among contact lens wearers. Infections mediated by Acanthamoeba are uncommon, but they can be underestimated due to poor awareness and delayed diagnosis. The routine use of rapid and cost-effective molecular methods like Real Time PCR for the diagnosis of this important pathogen could improve diagnosis and therapy outcome. This report describes the detection by Real Time PCR assay of six T4 and one T3 Acanthamoeba infections, as the first reported cases in Tuscany, Italy.