Mycobacterium chelonei keratitis: a case report and review of previously reported cases.
A 56-year-old woman who wore hard contact lenses developed a keratitis due to Mycobacterium chelonei. The organism was only sensitive to imipenem and partially to ciprofloxacin and erythromycin. After an initial response to topical therapy with these antibiotics the infection relapsed and a penetrating keratoplasty was performed, with resulting cure. M. chelonei has not previously been reported as a cause of keratitis associated with hard contact lens wear; neither has its treatment with imipenem and/or ciprofloxacin. A detailed photographic record showing the natural history of the keratitis is presented. Previously reported cases of M. chelonei keratitis are reviewed.
Department of Ophthalmology, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
D C
DC
Broadway
M G
MG
Kerr-Muir
S J
SJ
Eykyn
H
H
Pambakian
D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003261:Contact Lenses; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015378:Imipenem / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007634:Keratitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008875:Middle Aged; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D016926:Mycobacterium chelonae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D004917:Erythromycin; D015378:Imipenem