title: Infectious keratitis in 18,651 laser surface ablation procedures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the incidence, culture results, risk factors, treatment strategies, and visual outcomes of infectious keratitis after surface ablation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multicenter study in Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of patients who had surface ablation between January 2003 and December 2009 were reviewed to identify cases of infectious keratitis. The incidence, risk factors, clinical course, days to diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment, and visual outcome were recorded. Main outcome measures were incidence of infectious keratitis after surface ablation, culture results, response to treatment, and visual outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study reviewed the records of 9794 patients (18,651 eyes). Infectious keratitis after surface ablation was diagnosed in 39 eyes of 38 patients. The onset of infection was early (within 7 days after surgery) in 28 cases (71.79%). Cultures were positive in 13 of 27 cases in which samples were taken. The most frequently isolated microorganism was Staphylococcus species (9 cases). The final corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was 20/20 or better in 23 cases (58.97%), 20/40 or better in 36 cases (92.30%), and worse than 20/40 in 3 cases (7.69%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of infectious keratitis after surface ablation was 0.20%. Infectious keratitis is a potentially vision-threatening complication. Prompt and aggressive management with an intensive regimen of fortified antibiotic agents is strongly recommended. Proper management can preserve useful vision in most cases.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Baviera, Instituto Oftalmológico Europeo, Spain. derojas.v@gmail.com
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: de Rojas
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Llovet
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cobo-Soriano
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ortega-Usobiaga
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beltrán
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baviera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D049008:Keratectomy, Subepithelial, Laser-Assisted; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology