Incidence of Moraxella conjunctival infection

Thirty-three cases of Moraxella conjunctival infection, many incorrectly diagnosed as Chlamydia, epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, and herpes simplex infections, were confirmed by bacterial cultures and Giemsa staining during a one-year period. Although Moraxella conjunctivitis is associated with adolescent girls, 13 of our 27 female patients with Moraxella infection (48%) were 20 years or older. Although corneal involvement, preauricular adenopathy, and ocular nodules are not classically associated with Moraxella conjunctivitis, these symptoms were present in 15 cases (45%).