title: Neisseria meningitidis keratitis in adults: a case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this case series is to describe the clinical course of 2 patients with Neisseria meningitidis corneal ulcers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 49-year-old man (Patient 1) and a 22- year-old man (Patient 2) both experienced eye pain and were found to have corneal ulcers with surrounding infiltrate and ground-glass appearance. Gram-negative diplococci were seen in the first case. N. meningitidis was isolated in culture of corneal scrapings from both patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient 1 was treated with levofloxacin (0.5%) and cefazolin (50 mg/mL) eye drops hourly and intravenous ceftriaxone and oral rifampicin. Patient 2 was treated with cefazolin (50 mg/mL) and gentamicin (14 mg/mL) eye drops hourly, as well as intravenous ceftriaxone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The corneal ulcers resolved with anterior stromal scarring and no impairment of vision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Corneal ulcers caused by N. meningitidis may respond well to treatment without permanent visual sequelae. However, in view of the potential ocular and systemic complications, it is important to investigate and treat patients with N. meningitidis infection aggressively.
authors.affiliation: The Eye Institute, National Healthcare Group, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore. Colintan_eye@yahoo.com.sg
authors.forename: Colin S H
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Prabha U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.forename: Fong Yee
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Foo
authors.forename: James C H
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Li Wern
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Voon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000302:isolation & purification*