Posters

A cluster of Nocardia keratitis after refractive surgery

Poster Details

First Author: S.Shoughy SAUDI ARABIA

Co Author(s):    F. Aljassar   K. Tabbara                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

to report a cluster of Nocardia keratitis cases following refractive surgery.

Setting:

The Eye Center and The Eye Foundation for Research in Ophthalmology

Methods:

Retrospective review of the medical records of 2 patients (three eyes) operated by the same surgeon at the same center who developed postoperative keratitis. The first patient had undergone bilateral Femto LASIK and the second patient had undergone bilateral Femto SMILE.

Results:

The first patient developed unilateral postoperative keratitis while the second patient developed bilateral involvement. Microscopic examination of smears from the 2 patients revealed thin, branching filamentous bacteria that were identified as Nocardia asteroides. The first patient underwent lifting of the corneal flap for microbiologic evaluation of the corneal scrapings and the corneal bed was irrigated with antimicrobial agents in addition to topical antibiotics. The second patient received subconjunctival, intracorneal and intensive topical antimicrobial agents. The two patients responded favorably to treatment.

Conclusions:

Nocardia may cause an epidemic of infection after LASIK. Inappropriate sterilization methods during surgery may be the most probable predisposing factors for postoperative nocardia keratitis.

Financial Disclosure:

None