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Infectious crystalline keratopathy caused by gram-negative bacteria
T T Khater1, D B Jones, K R Wilhelmus
1Cullen Eye Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA. tkhater@bcm.tmc.edu
American Journal of Ophthalmology
|July 1, 1997
Summary
Gram-negative bacteria can cause infectious crystalline keratopathy, similar to gram-positive bacteria. Laboratory testing is crucial for identifying the specific bacteria and guiding effective antimicrobial treatment for this eye infection.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Infectious crystalline keratopathy (ICK) is a severe microbial keratitis.
- Gram-negative bacteria are potential, though less common, causative agents of ICK.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the features and outcomes of ICK specifically caused by gram-negative bacteria.
- To compare ICK caused by gram-negative bacteria with that caused by gram-positive bacteria.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of patients with ICK at a university eye center (1978-1995).
- Nested case-comparison study analyzing gram-negative versus gram-positive bacterial keratitis.
Main Results:
- Five of 18 ICK cases (28%) were caused by gram-negative rods.
- No significant differences in predisposing factors, clinical presentation, or visual outcomes were observed between gram-negative and gram-positive ICK.
- Common gram-negative isolates included Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.
Conclusions:
- Gram-negative bacteria can cause infectious crystalline keratopathy.
- ICK caused by gram-negative bacteria lacks distinguishing clinical features compared to infections by gram-positive bacteria.
- Accurate laboratory identification of the causative pathogen is essential for targeted antimicrobial therapy.