Serratia Liquefaciens Keratitis In Therapeutic Contact Lens Wearer With Corneal Decompensation: A Case Report
Published 2025 - 43rd Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: PO922 | Type: Poster | DOI: 10.82333/xyhj-mf37
Authors: Laura Modamio-Gardeta 1 , Hugo Santigo-Balsera 1 , Ana Gonzalez-Duran* 1 , Elena Casas-Maroto 1 , Ana María Guadilla-Borras 1 , Pedro Fernandez-Perez 1 , Nadia Minguez-Caro 1 , Noelia Rubio-Alvarez 1 , Miriam Buenasmañanas-Maeso 1
1Ophthalmology,Hospital Universitario Infanta Cristina ,Madrid,Spain
Purpose
To present the clinical course and medical management of infectious keratitis by Serratia liquefaciens in a patient wearing therapeutic contact lenses due to corneal chronic edema.
Setting
Hospital Universitario Infanta Cristina Department of Ophthalmology. Madrid, Spain
Methods
We report the case of a 78-year-old female presenting with ocular pain and redness in the right eye for 7 days. She was wearing therapeutic contact lens due to chronic corneal edema after complicated cataract surgery and ofloxacin eye-drops. However, she admitted she was not applying the antibiotic eye-drops. Biomicroscopy revealed a central corneal ulcer with a 2×2 mm stromal infiltrate and corneal thinning.
Corneal scraping was performed and empirical treatment with fortified ceftazidime and vancomycin eye-drops was initiated with lack of improvement and worsening of the infiltrate in the following days.
Culture results revealed the presence of Serratia liquefaciens that was resistant to the initial empirical treatment, so it was modified.
Results
Based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing, the modified treatment using fortified amikacin eye drops resulted in marked clinical improvement.
However, secondary corneal leukoma continues to remain as a sequelae 3 months after the end of treatment.
Conclusions
Bacterial keratitis is a common complication in contact lens wearers and patients with other ocular risk factors. While well-known pathogens are frequently identified, rare microorganisms can present significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
Corneal scraping is a diagnostic tool that can provide valuable information to guide the diagnosis and treatment.
This case of Serratia liquefaciens infection, a pathogen rarely reported in ocular infections, shows the importance of considering rare bacteria, especially in patients with previous corneal conditions and emphasises the crucial role of corneal scraping. Recognizing and properly treating unusual infections can lead to better outcomes and improve our understanding of eye diseases.