Abstract

Aim: To analyse the clinical presentation, identify predisposing risk factors and evaluate the outcome of treatment of Moraxella keratitis.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out of culture-proved cases of Moraxella keratitis from hospital records during a 10-year period (from December 1995 to November 2005) at the Corneal Unit of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.

Results: 95 episodes of Moraxella keratitis were identified in 92 patients. 3 (3.2%) patients had recurrent keratitis. The mean age of the patients was 70 (range 17–93) years. Multiple predisposing factors were identified in 23 (24%) eyes, including corneal graft (n = 15), previous herpes keratitis (n = 15) and eye lid diseases (n = 15). Adjunctive procedures were carried out in 42 eyes. These included botulinum toxin injection (n = 17), tarsorraphy (n = 12), penetrating keratoplasty (n = 8), enucleation (n = 3), tissue adhesive and bandage contact lens (n = 4), and conjunctival flap (n = 5). Polymicrobial infection was present in 17 eyes. Final visual acuity was counting finger or less in 25 (26%) eyes.

Conclusions: Local ocular predisposing factors play a major role in Moraxella keratitis. This infection has a poor visual outcome attributable to both the nature of the infection and the predisposing factors.