title: Bilateral Mycobacterium abscessus keratitis after laser in situ keratomileusis.
abstract: A 35-year-old man was diagnosed with Mycobacterium abscessus keratitis in the left eye 3 weeks after bilateral laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Infection in the right eye developed 6 weeks after surgery. Despite aggressive treatment with topical amikacin and clarithromycin and oral clarithromycin, the infection progressed in both eyes. To improve antibiotic penetration, the LASIK flap was removed in both eyes. Culture positivity was prolonged; however, after 8 weeks of intensive topical antibiotics, the infection was eradicated. The final best corrected visual acuity was 20/30 in both eyes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: JoAnn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Giaconi
authors.forename: Randal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: Christopher N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Ta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000583:Amikacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D016926:Mycobacterium chelonae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000382:microbiology; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D000583:Amikacin; D017291:Clarithromycin