A case of keratoconjunctivitis due to ewingella americana and a review of unusual organisms causing external eye infections

RESUMO

We report the isolation of Ewingella americana from the conjunctivae of a 38 year old female physician with keratoconjunctivitis associated with the use of soft contact lens. The patient was treated sucessfully with topical ciprofloxacin. The source of the infection remains unknown. All contact lens cleaning materials used by the patient were sterile. Since the patient was a physician, and this organism has been recorded as a cause of nosocomial infections, we checked whether cases of Ewingella americana had been reported, but none were identified. We have identified 39 bacterial species, 27 fungi, 4 viruses, 7 protozoa, 4 helminths, and 2 arthropods which rarely have been associated with keratitis or conjunctivitis. Infectious diseases specialists and ophthalmologists must be aware of the many different causes of this illness, including ewingella americana. This organism is a rare bacterial cause of keratoconjunctivitis not previously reported in Brazil. It should be added to the list of unusual cases of external eye infections.