Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Moraxella Keratitis

Changing trends of infective keratitis have been identified worldwide. The aim of this study was to define the clinical associations, characteristics, and outcomes of patients with culture-proven Moraxella keratitis from a large tertiary corneal unit in the United Kingdom.

Patients with confirmed Moraxella isolates presenting between January 2004 and November 2016 were analyzed. Patient-related factors were examined, including patient demographics, date of presentation, clinical presentation, predisposing factors, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), treatment plans, and clinical outcomes.

Eighty-six patients were identified, of whom 61 (70.9%) had at least one recognized predisposing factor. The median BCVA at presentation was 2.60 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR), which improved to median = 0.60 logMAR at final visit (P < 0.001). Visual improvement of more than 2 Snellen lines was achieved in 60.7% of eyes. A significant relationship (P = 0.003) between final vision and the presence of hypopyon was found, where for a fixed BCVA at presentation those with a hypopyon achieved a better final visual acuity of 0.69 logMAR.

Our study showed that although most patients presented with at least one predisposing factor, some of the more traditionally perceived risk factors may need to be reconsidered. We have shown that with aggressive treatment, favorable visual outcomes can be achieved in most patients. Interestingly, the presence of hypopyon at presentation was linked to a better visual outcome, likely because such patients had more to gain in visual potential.