ScholarDeck

Cohort studySaudi journal of ophthalmology : official journal of the Saudi Ophthalmological Society · 2026

Nocardia keratitis: Microbiological characteristics, antibiotic sensitivity, and clinical profile in a tertiary care setting.

Mehdi Aminizade, Ghazal Ghochani, Kosar Esmaili … Mohammad Soleimani

OphthalmologyCohort study

All Nocardia keratitis isolates were susceptible to the antibiotic amikacin.

Nocardia keratitis: Microbiological characteristics, antibiotic sensitivity, and clinical profile in a tertiary care setting.

Mehdi Aminizade … Mohammad Soleimani

Saudi journal of ophthalmology : official journal of the Saudi Ophthalmological Society · 2026

Purpose

This study evaluates the clinical characteristics, microbiological profile, and management strategies of Nocardia keratitis in patients referred to Farabi Eye Hospital, a tertiary care center.

Methods

This retrospective study on culture-proven Nocardia keratitis (2014-2024) included biomicroscopic examinations, visual acuity assessments, and culture-based diagnoses.

n = 38 patients

Results

every tested bacteria sample was fully killed by this antibiotic

100%

Amikacin susceptible

91.7%

Imipenem susceptible

More results

The mean duration from symptom onset to presentation was 28.62 (median = 4.0) days, and the mean infiltration size was 2.7 ± 1.0 mm.

Contact lens (contact lens) use was the most common risk factor, identified in eight patients (21.1%).

More results

There were no significant differences in age, infiltration size, presenting visual acuity (logMAR), or admission duration between contact lens users and nonusers ( P > 0.05).

The mean visual acuity was 1.56 logMAR at presentation and showed a slight, nonsignificant improvement to 1.49 logMAR at discharge ( P = 0.3).

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

Nocardia keratitis, though rare, can lead to vision-threatening complications with a prolonged course.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Recognizing risk factors like contact lens use and ocular trauma is crucial, and while amikacin is the primary treatment, alternatives like imipenem may be effective in certain cases.

Post

Nocardia keratitis: Microbiological characteristics, antibiotic sensitivity, and clinical profile in a tertiary care setting.

All Nocardia keratitis isolates were susceptible to the antibiotic amikacin.

Related papers