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Published on: December 17, 2021
Tsukamurella: an unrecognized mimic of atypical mycobacterial keratitis? The first case report
Patrick M K Tam1, Alvin L Young, Lulu Cheng
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to report on Tsukamurella as a mimic of atypical mycobacterial infection.
Methods:
We report a patient who had received repeated corneal grafts with culture-proven Tsukamurella keratitis.
Results:
A slow-progressing corneal abscess that initially developed adjacent to a corneal stitch responded poorly to empiric antibiotic treatment. A preliminary culture report revealed fast-growing mycobacterial species. Treatment adjustments successfully controlled the disease. A final diagnosis of Tsukamurella was subsequently made on the basis of cultures.
Conclusions:
Tsukamurella exhibits laboratory similarities to mycobacteria and should be considered in the differential of atypical infection of the ocular surface.
