Therapy-resistant purulent keratoconjunctivitis

Abstract

The cause of keratoconjunctivitis could be either infectious or non-infectious in etiology. The case of a 79-year-old female patient with chronic, purulent bilateral keratoconjunctivitis which was totally resistant to therapy is presented. The patient also suffered from non-specific collagenosis resulting in severe Sicca symptoms. Over the years none of the many antibiotic or lubricant therapies that were administered could alleviate the symptoms and corneal scars resulted. After a long search the focus was localized. On everting the eyelids a pair of nearly fully decomposed therapeutic contact lenses adhering to each other were found and removed from both eyes. The pathogenic agent was identified as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia which was successfully treated by cotrimoxazol eye drops and immediately caused a dramatic improvement and total relief of the symptoms.