Streptococcal pharyngitis leading to corneal ulceration.

Journal Article (Letter)

PURPOSE: To report a patient with a history of exposure keratopathy who presented with bilateral bacterial keratitis associated with streptococcal pharyngitis and use of bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP). DESIGN: Case report. METHODS: Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of patient isolates from ocular and pharyngeal cultures. RESULTS: Ocular and oropharyngeal cultures from a 24-month-old child with a history of cerebral palsy on BiPAP at night revealed the same strain of Streptococcus pyogenes. CONCLUSIONS: Use of mechanical ventilation, such as BiPAP, may precipitate inoculation of eye with respiratory or oropharyngeal pathogens. To the authors' knowledge this is the first report demonstrating the association between concurrent streptococcal pharygitis, keratitis, and use of BiPAP.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Millender, TW; Reller, LB; Meekins, LC; Afshari, NA

Published Date

  • April 2012

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 20 / 2

Start / End Page

  • 143 - 144

PubMed ID

  • 22360434

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1744-5078

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.3109/09273948.2011.649152

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • England