Shewanella putrefaciens keratitis in the lamellar bed 6 years after LASIK.
OBJECTIVE
To present a case of infectious keratitis occurring 6 years after LASIK due to the rare human pathogen Shewanella putrefaciens.


METHODS
A 58-year-old man presented with redness and pain in the right eye 6 years following LASIK retreatment. Examination revealed a corneal infiltrate at the flap interface. Corneal scraping of stroma beneath the flap was submitted for histopathologic and microbiologic evaluation.


RESULTS
An infiltrate located at the LASIK flap interface originated from an epithelial defect at the flap-corneal junction. Corneal stroma cultures demonstrated Shewanella putrefaciens. The infection resolved with antibiotic treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
LASIK-related complications, such as infections, can occur many years following the procedure. The potential space created under the LASIK flap may predispose patients to infection by opportunistic organisms.
Park
Hee-Jung S
HJ
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla, USA.
Tuli
Sonal S
SS
Downer
Donald M
DM
Gohari
A Reza
AR
Shah
Milan
M
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002437:Cefazolin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000382:microbiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012086:Reoperation; D020614:Shewanella putrefaciens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000382:microbiology*; D014031:Tobramycin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002437:Cefazolin; D014031:Tobramycin