Acanthamoeba Species Keratitis in a Soft Contact Lens Wearer Molecularly Linked to Well Water

Acanthamoeba species keratitis has been associated with soft contact lens wear. In the present report, an epidemiological link was established between the patient's isolate and well water from the home using molecular methods. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case in Canada whe...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Samira Mubareka, Michelle Alfa, Godfrey K Harding, Gregory Booton, Marilyn Ekins, Paul Van Caeseele
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2006-01-01
Series:Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2006/169625
Description
Summary:Acanthamoeba species keratitis has been associated with soft contact lens wear. In the present report, an epidemiological link was established between the patient's isolate and well water from the home using molecular methods. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case in Canada where such a link has been established. Primary care practitioners and specialists, including ophthalmologists and infectious diseases specialists, must maintain a high degree of clinical suspicion in soft contact lens wearers with keratitis unresponsive to conventional topical and systemic treatment.
ISSN:1712-9532