Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis in the identification of the origin of bacterial keratitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
OBJECTIVE
To report the use of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) in the investigation of the origin of infectious keratitis.


METHODS
A 19-year-old girl presented with infectious keratitis in the left eye. She was a soft contact lens wearer, and was noncompliant with the proper cleaning methods proposed by the manufacturer. Microbiological assessment was performed by means of culture and PFGE.


RESULTS
The patient was treated successfully with topical cefalotin and gentamicin drops. Cultures were positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the cornea and conjunctiva, and in the contact lens, its case and the cleaning solution. PFGE showed identical patterns of banding in each.


CONCLUSIONS
In this case of bacterial keratitis, PFGE proved to be very useful in identifying how the contamination occurred.
de Melo
Gustavo Barreto
GB
Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Aggio
Fabio Bom
FB
Höfling-Lima
Ana Luisa
AL
d'Azevedo
Pedro Alves
PA
Pignatari
Antônio Carlos Campos
AC
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002512:Cephalothin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000382:microbiology; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000382:microbiology; D003315:Cornea / Q000382:microbiology; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D005839:Gentamicins; D002512:Cephalothin