Capnocytophaga keratitis.
OBJECTIVE
To review the clinical course, treatment, and visual outcomes of keratitis caused by the gram negative rod CAPNOCYTOPHAGA:


METHODS
Retrospective, noncomparative case series.


METHODS
Ten patients with culture-proven unilateral CAPNOCYTOPHAGA: keratitis examined at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute between January 1, 1989, and December 31, 1998.


METHODS
All patients underwent standard diagnostic microbiologic evaluation, and topical antimicrobial therapy was instituted. A penetrating keratoplasty or enucleation was performed in some patients.


METHODS
The changes in visual acuity and clinical response to antimicrobial therapy.


RESULTS
Predisposing factors were present in all patients. Cultures identified CAPNOCYTOPHAGA: species at a mean of 7.5 days. Initial topical treatment consisted of an aminoglycoside and vancomycin in four patients, a quinolone or aminoglycoside alone in two patients each, and ofloxacin with vancomycin or tobramycin with ceftazidime in one patient each. After the microbiologic identification of CAPNOCYTOPHAGA:, treatment in four patients was changed to intensive, topical clindamycin. Five of the 10 eyes were medically cured (3 of these eyes underwent penetrating keratoplasty for corneal scarring), and 5 eyes required enucleation. The indications for enucleation included persistent infection with development of endophthalmitis or blind, painful eye. Five of the 10 eyes achieved 20/80 or better final visual acuity. Four of these five eyes were treated with topical clindamycin.


CONCLUSIONS
Important factors in achieving a good visual outcome in CAPNOCYTOPHAGA: keratitis include early microbiologic identification and intensive therapy with topical clindamycin. CAPNOCYTOPHAGA: should be included in the differential diagnosis of bacterial keratitis in patients with suggestive predisposing factors or with protracted keratitis unresponsive to treatment.
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.
G
G
Alexandrakis
L A
LA
Palma
D
D
Miller
E C
EC
Alfonso
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002206:Capnocytophaga / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015353:Eye Enucleation; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents