title: Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis in the identification of the origin of bacterial keratitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gustavo Barreto
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: de Melo
authors.forename: Fabio Bom
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Aggio
authors.forename: Ana Luisa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Höfling-Lima
authors.forename: Pedro Alves
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: d'Azevedo
authors.forename: Antônio Carlos Campos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pignatari
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D005839:Gentamicins; D002512:Cephalothin