Successful Treatment of Mycobacterium chelonae Keratitis Within a Corneal Transplant Using Intrastromal Amikacin Injections-A Case Report Demonstrating the Fundamental Principles and Challenges of Infective Keratitis Management and Novel Therapeutic Approaches

Nancy Louisa Merridew; Ravinder Singh Phagura; Edward Anderson; Louise Anne Cooley; Graeme Alfred Pollock; Belinda McEwan; Paul James McCartney; Mohamad-Ali Trad

doi:10.1093/ofid/ofz340

Successful Treatment of Mycobacterium chelonae Keratitis Within a Corneal Transplant Using Intrastromal Amikacin Injections-A Case Report Demonstrating the Fundamental Principles and Challenges of Infective Keratitis Management and Novel Therapeutic Approaches

Open Forum Infect Dis. 2019 Jul 22;6(8):ofz340. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofz340. eCollection 2019 Aug.

Authors

Nancy Louisa Merridew¹, Ravinder Singh Phagura², Edward Anderson³, Louise Anne Cooley¹, Graeme Alfred Pollock⁴, Belinda McEwan¹, Paul James McCartney⁵, Mohamad-Ali Trad¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, Australia.
² Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Australia.
³ Department of Pharmacy, Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, Australia.
⁴ Centre for Eye Research Australia, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
⁵ Hobart Eye Surgeons, Hobart, Australia.

Abstract

Mycobacterium chelonae keratitis is rare and difficult to treat. This is the first known case worldwide of effective treatment using intrastromal amikacin injections in a corneal transplant recipient who had metastatic breast cancer. The challenges and principles of management, applicable to other causes of infective keratitis, are reviewed.

Keywords: Mycobacterium chelonae; corneal transplant; infective keratitis; intrastromal amikacin injections; nontuberculous mycobacteria; penetrating keratoplasty.