Mycobacterium aurum keratitis: An unusual etiology of a sight-threatening infection

Mycobacterium aurum keratitis: An unusual etiology of a sight-threatening infection

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Atypical fast-growing Mycobacterium species are usually identified after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, cosmetic surgeries, and citronella horse shampoo catheter-related, pulmonary or soft tissue infections.We herein present the case of a 56-year-old man with purulent discharge, redness, and foreign body sensation in his left eye.He underwent two surgeries that partially controlled the infection but were not curative.Corneal transplantation was performed, and a biopsy of the excised cornea indicated Mycobacterium aurum infection, which was summer salt powder confirmed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.This appears to be the first documented case of keratitis attributable to the non-tuberculous mycobateria M.

aurum.The intractable extra-ocular progression of the disease in the absence of general signs or symptoms was notable.We suggest considering non-tuberculous mycobacteria among the probable causes of complicated keratitis or keratitis that does not respond to drug treatment, especially in regions where tuberculosis is endemic.Keywords: Mycobacteria, atypical, Keratitis, Corneal transplantation.