Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose:Moraxella keratitis has often been reported in alcoholic, malnourished or diabetic patients. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the risk factors, clinical characteristics and outcomes of Moraxella keratitis. Methods:A Retrospective review of 23 eyes of 22 patients with culture-proven Moraxella keratitis at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary between January 1990 and August 2001. Results:Alcoholism was a risk factor only in 6 patients. Sixteen patients had no systemic risk factors. Ocular risk factors included blepharitis (5 eyes), previous herpes simplex virus infection (3 eyes), ectropion (2 eyes), corneal edema and broken suture after penetrating keratoplasty (1 eye each). Visual acuity upon presentation was ≥20/200 in only 6 eyes. The corneal ulceration was central or paracentral in 22 eyes. Corneal perforation occured in 8 patients, requiring cyanoacrylate glue (6 eyes) and/or therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (5 eyes). Visual acuity improved in 14 eyes, remained unchanged in 4 eyes and worsened in 2 eyes. Conclusion:Moraxella keratitis may present in patients with no known systemic or ocular surface disease, and can lead to poor visual outcomes, including corneal perforation.
Keywords: 369 cornea: clinical science • 328 bacterial disease • 355 clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment