title: Contact lens-associated microbial keratitis.
abstract: During a 14-year period, 42 cases of microbial keratitis were associated with contact lens (CL) wear. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated in 40% of the cases and Staphylococcus in 31%; Streptococcus pneumoniae, alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus, and Serratia marcescens were the next most commonly isolated pathogens. There was a single fungal corneal ulcer. Bandage CL use was associated with a high prevalence of infection with quasi-commensal organisms and with polymicrobial keratitis, a pattern of disease quite distinct from that induced by other types of CLs. Marked visual loss frequently occurred. There was a disturbing increase in the number of infections associated with extended-wear CLs (worn for either aphakia or myopia) over the last 18 months of the study.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections; D002648:Child; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections; D013290:Streptococcal Infections; D014792:Visual Acuity