CORNEAL ULCER BY NOCARDIA-ASTEROIDES FOLL OWING PENETRATING KERATOPLASTY

We report the case of a 43-years-old patient, to whom a corneal transp lantation was made because he presented a Salzmann nodular degeneratio n in his left eye. The patient was observed every week and his develop ment during the following months was good. Nine weeks later he was att ended at the emergency room of the hospital, with an intensive secreti on and partial loss of vision in the operated eye. It was detected a p eripheral ulcer of a diffused borders with a loss of epithelium and an terior stroma in the superior temporal part of the cornea. Five days l ater, the microbiological cultures confirmed the presence of Nocardia asteroides. In spite of the initial good evolution of the ulcer treate d topically with a 20% sulfacetamide and trimetoprim-sulfadiacine p.o. , the graft ended unsuccesfully.