Infectious keratitis caused by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and yeast simultaneously.

PURPOSE: To report a case of coinfection of the human cornea by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and yeast.

METHODS

A 59-year-old woman presented with a corneal ulcer. The corneal lesion worsened suddenly after initial improvement with empirical antibiotic treatment. A culture revealed S. maltophilia. The keratitis rapidly progressed despite treatment with sensitivity-proven antibiotic agents. Eventually, the patient underwent therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty.

RESULTS

Pathology of the cornea showed yeast forms and pseudohyphae scattered over the cornea. After surgery, the inflammation was controlled without any signs of recurrent infection.

CONCLUSION

Coinfection of the cornea by S. maltophilia and yeast may occur in a susceptible cornea and may not be controlled by standard medical treatment.