Purpose
To report a series of patients with infectious keratitis caused by Kocuria spp, the diagnostic dilemma it presents to the clinician, review the treatment regimen, and the clinical outcomes of the cases
Methods
Non-comparative consecutive case series. Medical records and microbiology results of patients who presented Kocuria spp. keratitis. Data included demographic data, past medical history, risk factors for infectious keratitis, clinical characteristics, microbiological results and drug sensitivity, clinical course, management, and visual outcomes.
Results
Six patients were included, all females, mean patient age was 64.6 years (range from 42 to 84 years). All had risk factors for infectious complications. The main causes of infections were diverse: filamentous keratitis, dry eye, blepharitis, and persistent corneal edema. In all cases, ulcers were classified as severe. The infection resolved with medical treatment in one eye only. One case was managed with amniotic membrane graft. One patient required lamellar keratoplasty and another penetrating keratoplasty. In two cases, the keratitis was severe enough to require evisceration. The final visual acuity ranged from 20/25 to no light perception.
Conclusions
The bacterial keratitis by Kocuria spp. is a rare infection associated with compromised immunity. It may have an unexpected clinical course with possible serious outcomes. It is important to consider this pathogen in patients concomitant ocular surface disease and unusual clinical course.
Keywords: 573 keratitis •
479 cornea: clinical science •
593 microbial pathogenesis: clinical studies