Mycobacterium chelonei keratopathy with visual rehabilitation by a triple procedure.
We report a chronic keratouveitis following an eye injury, the etiology of which remained obscure despite repeated corneal scrapings and cultures. Eventually, the diagnosis was established by culturing Mycobacterium chelonei from a corneal biopsy specimen. Topical amikacin resolved active inflammation, but dense corneal scarring and a cataract remained. Visual rehabilitation was achieved through a combined penetrating keratoplasty, extracapsular cataract extraction, and intraocular lens implantation. This case illustrates that there should be a high index of suspicion of atypical mycobacteria when faced with any unusual keratitis, particularly following penetrating injuries and corneal grafts.
Crane
T B
TB
John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii.
Stevens
R E
RE
Couch
R D
RD
Lee
T L
TL
Terui
R
R
D002387:Cataract Extraction; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*