Mycobacterium Fortuitum Corneal Ulcer

Skowrat Kunavisarut, M.D.,
Anuchit Poonyathalang, M.D.
Department of Ophthalmology, Ramathibodi Hospital


ABSTRACT

Comeal ulcer due to Mycobacterium fortuitum in a 27 year old man was reported. Mycobacterium fortuitum is an atypical mycobacterium rarely encountered in ophthalmic practice, it is found in soil and water.

The ulcer caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum has no characteristic feature, the clinical course is chronic, indolent with exacerbation. Identification of organism can be made by acid fast staining and culture from corneal scrapings. The organism usually is resistant to most antibiotics, including standard antituberculous drugs. However,successful treatment was achieved with topical amikacin and imipenem in this case.

Thai J Ophthalmol 1990; July - Dec 4 (2): 135-139