Mycobacterium chelonei keratitis: a case report and review of previously reported cases

• Published in: Eye (London) Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 134 - 142
• Main Authors: BROADWAY, D. C, KERR-MUIR, M. G, EYKYN, S. J, PAMBAKIAN, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing Group 1994
• Subjects: Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the eye and orbit; Biological and medical sciences; Ciprofloxacin - therapeutic use; Contact Lenses; Cornea - pathology; Erythromycin - therapeutic use; Female; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Imipenem - therapeutic use; Infectious diseases; Keratitis - drug therapy; Keratitis - microbiology; Keratitis - surgery; Keratoplasty, Penetrating; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mycobacterium chelonae - drug effects; Mycobacterium chelonae - isolation & purification; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous - drug therapy; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous - pathology; Case study; Human; Eye disease; Mycobacterium chelonei; Keratitis; Mycobacteriales; Mycobacteriaceae; Bacteria; Actinomycetes; Keratopathy
• ISSN: 0950-222X; 1476-5454
• DOI: 10.1038/eye.1994.27

A 56-year-old woman who wore hard contact lenses developed a keratitis due to Mycobacterium chelonei. The organism was only sensitive to imipenem and partially to ciprofloxacin and erythromycin. After an initial response to topical therapy with these antibiotics the infection relapsed and a penetrating keratoplasty was performed, with resulting cure. M. chelonei has not previously been reported as a cause of keratitis associated with hard contact lens wear; neither has its treatment with imipenem and/or ciprofloxacin. A detailed photographic record showing the natural history of the keratitis is presented. Previously reported cases of M. chelonei keratitis are reviewed.