INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE: Mycobacterium (M.) chelonae is responsible for a half of relatively rare nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) keratitis. We report a case of M. chelonae keratitis in a woman following sclerocorneal suture extraction after cataract surgery. RESULTS: A 70-year-old woman presented with a red eye and corneal infiltration of her left eye six weeks following sclerocorneal suture extraction after an elective cataract surgery in another institute. She complained of a sharp, cutting pain and photophobia. Since initial corneal scrapes and conjunctival swabs proved no pathogen using culture and PCR methods, non-specific antibiotics and antifungal agents were administered. As keratitis was complicated by an inflammation in the anterior chamber and vitreous, samples of the vitreous fluid were sent for microbiologic examination. DNA of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was repeatedly detected. Since the intrastromal abscess had formed, corneal re-scrapings were performed and M. chelonae was detected using culture, MALDI-TOF MS and PCR methods. Therapy was changed to a combination of oral and topical clarithromycin, intravitreal, topical and intracameral amikacin, and oral and topical moxifloxacin. The successful therapy led to stabilization. The optical penetrating keratoplasty was performed and no signs of the infection recurrence were found. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of nontuberculous mycobacterial keratitis is difficult and often delayed. An aggressive and prolonged antimicrobial therapy should include systemic and topical antibiotics. Surgical intervention in the form of corneal transplantation may be required in the active and nonresponsive infection. In the presented case this was necessary for visual rehabilitation due to scarring.

• Klíčová slova
• Antibiotic therapy, keratoplasty, Keratitis, Mycobacterium chelonae,
• MeSH
• amikacin terapeutické užití   MeSH
• antibakteriální látky * terapeutické užití   MeSH
• atypické mykobakteriální infekce * diagnóza   farmakoterapie   mikrobiologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• fluorochinolony terapeutické užití   MeSH
• keratitida * diagnóza   farmakoterapie   mikrobiologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• klarithromycin terapeutické užití   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• moxifloxacin * terapeutické užití   MeSH
• Mycobacterium chelonae * izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• kazuistiky MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH
• Názvy látek
• amikacin MeSH
• antibakteriální látky * MeSH
• fluorochinolony MeSH
• klarithromycin MeSH
• moxifloxacin * MeSH