NYMC Faculty Publications
Corneal Ulcer in a Patient With Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Unusual Route
Author Type(s)
Faculty
Journal Title
Case Reports in Ophthalmological Medicine
First Page
5245620
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2022
Department
Ophthalmology
Abstract
PURPOSE: To report a case of Streptococcus mitis oralis () corneal ulcer in a patient with a possible preventable cause. METHODS: Cultures were obtained from a 64-year-old woman with a 3.5 mm × 5 mm corneal ulcer with hypopyon in the left eye. RESULTS: Culture reports demonstrated the growth of S, a commensal organism of the oral flora. Fortified vancomycin 5% eye drops were started, and the patient was counseled on the rarity of the bacteria as an etiology of corneal ulcers. On the return visit, the patient, who works in a doctor's office, volunteered information that the preservative free artificial tear vials that she used were difficult to open because of her hand deformity due to rheumatoid arthritis; thus, she had to bite the vials open. CONCLUSIONS: is an organism commonly found in the mouth but is rarely found in the eye. We report a unique case of an immunocompromised patient with rheumatoid arthritis, severe dry eye, and a history of multiple episodes of keratolysis, who developed a corneal ulcer from a rare pathogen, with a plausible and preventable route of infection.
Recommended Citation
Jaffry, M., & Lister, M. (2022). Corneal Ulcer in a Patient With Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Unusual Route. Case Reports in Ophthalmological Medicine, 2022, 5245620. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5245620
