MYCOBACTERIUM-CHELONEI KERATITIS - A CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF PREVIOUSLY REPORTED CASES

A 56-year-old woman who wore hard contact lenses developed a keratitis due to Mycobacterium chelonei. The organism was only sensitive to imi penem and partially to ciprofloxacin and erythromycin. After an initia l response to topical therapy with these antibiotics the infection rel apsed and a penetrating keratoplasty was performed, with resulting cur e. M. chelonei has not previously been reported as a cause of keratiti s associated with hard contact lens wear; neither has its treatment wi th imipenem and/or ciprofloxacin. A detailed photographic record showi ng the natural history of the keratitis is presented. Previously repor ted cases of M. chelonei keratitis are reviewed.