Clinical Features, Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile, and Outcomes of Infectious Keratitis Caused by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.

PURPOSE: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, an uncommon cause of infectious keratitis, is difficult to treat because of its resistance to multiple antibiotics. The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical features, antibiotic susceptibility profile, and outcomes of S. maltophilia keratitis.

METHODS: A retrospective review of records from 1987 to 2016 identified 26 eyes of 26 patients who were treated at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute for an S. maltophilia corneal ulcer. Clinical data were analyzed as to predisposing factors, clinical presentation, antibiotic susceptibility, treatment selection, and clinical outcomes.

RESULTS: Median age at presentation was 65 years (range, 16-98). Twelve patients were using topical corticosteroids, 8 patients had a history of penetrating keratoplasty, and 9 were contact lens wearers. All patients received topical antibiotics, 2 required therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty, and 1 was enucleated. At presentation, 57.7% (15/26) of the patients had visual acuity of 20/400 or worse. At the final visit, only 30.4% (7/23) of the patients had visual acuity worse than 20/400, whereas 65.2% (15/23) of the patients had 20/100 or better. Almost all isolates (25/26, 96.2%) were susceptible to fluoroquinolones and 77.3% (17/22) of them to polymyxin B/trimethoprim. Only 33.3% (5/15) of the tested isolates were susceptible to aminoglycosides and 58.3% (7/12) to cephalosporins.

CONCLUSIONS: Infectious keratitis due to S. maltophilia presents a treatment challenge because of its resistance to aminoglycosides and cephalosporins, which are typically used for empiric broad-spectrum gram-negative coverage as fortified solutions. Fluoroquinolones and polymyxin B/trimethoprim should be considered instead in cases of S. maltophilia infection.