Abstract
BackgroundBurkholderia cepacia, an opportunistic pathogen mainly affecting patients with cystic fibrosis or immunocompromised, has rarely been documented as a cause of corneal infection. The clinical and microbiological profiles of B. cepacia keratitis are reported herein.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical record of 17 patients with culture-proven B. cepacia keratitis, treated between 2000 and 2019 at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan. Our data included predisposing factors, clinical presentations, treatments, and visual outcomes of B. cepacia keratitis as well as the drug susceptibility of the causative agent.ResultsThe most common predisposing factor for B. cepacia keratitis was preexisting ocular disease (seven, 41.2%), particularly herpetic keratitis (five). Polymicrobial infection was detected in seven (41.2%) eyes. All B. cepacia isolates were susceptible to ceftazidime. Main medical treatments included levofloxacin or ceftazidime. Surgical treatment was required in five (29.4%) patients. Only four (23.5%) patients exhibited final visual acuity better than 20/200.ConclusionsB. cepacia keratitis primarily affects patients with preexisting ocular disease, particularly herpetic keratitis, and responds well to ceftazidime or fluoroquinolones. However, the visual outcomes are generally poor.
Highlights
Burkholderia cepacia, an opportunistic pathogen mainly affecting patients with cystic fibrosis or immu‐ nocompromised, has rarely been documented as a cause of corneal infection
Risk factors, clinical presentations, treatment, and visual outcomes, we identified the characteristics of the disease, contributing additional knowledge on B. cepacia keratitis
Materials and methods This single-center retrospective study included data of 17 patients diagnosed as having B. cepacia keratitis at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan between December 2003 and August 2019
Summary
Burkholderia cepacia, an opportunistic pathogen mainly affecting patients with cystic fibrosis or immu‐ nocompromised, has rarely been documented as a cause of corneal infection. The clinical and microbiological profiles of B. cepacia keratitis are reported . Burkholderia cepacia complex, formerly known as Pseudomonas cepacia, is a group of aerobic Gram-negative bacilli comprising more than 20 species [1, 2]. It can exist in various environments, such as soil or water, and can infect both humans and plants. B. cepacia is principally an opportunistic pathogen that causes various diseases, such as lung infections, in patients with cystic fibrosis or chronic granulomatous disease.
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