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Propionibacterium acnes a common cause of bacterial keratitis, associated morbidity

Cornea. 2009;28(1):36-39.

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Propionibacterium acnes is a frequent cause of bacterial keratitis and may cause significant morbidity, a study found.

Of 1,329 cultures that showed bacterial growth, 124 (9.3%) yielded P. acnes. Seventy-eight of these cases of corneal ulcers were not pretreated with antibiotics, and of those, P. acnes was the sole bacterium identified in 52 cases (66.7%).

Morbidity in the eyes that had not been pretreated, including those that yielded multiple pathogens, manifested as cellular reaction in the anterior chamber (65.4%), hypopyon (15.4%), stromal thinning (26.9%) and progression to perforation (2.6%). Three patients (3.8%) did not respond to therapy and underwent surgery for keratitis.

Contact lens wear and prior surgery were the most frequent local risk factors associated with corneal ulcer, occurring in 31 (39.7%) and 21 (26.9%) of the 78 eyes, respectively.

"This study provides further evidence that P. acnes should be added to the list of etiologic organisms in infectious keratitis," the study authors said.