Epidemic and poradic cae of nontuberculou mycobacterial keratiti aociated with laer in itu keratomileui

Purpoe To report national cae-finding reult for nontuberculou mycobacterial keratiti and decribe it aociation with laer in itu keratomileui (LAIK). Deign Enhanced paive dieae reporting. Method In April 2001, we invetigated a California cluter of Mycobacterium chelonae keratiti aociated with hyperopic LAIK uing a contact len mak. To identify other poibly related cae, the American Academy of Ophthalmology e-mailed it member aking them to report recent cae of nontuberculou mycobacterial keratiti to the Center for Dieae Control and Prevention. Reult Forty-three additional cae of keratiti were reported (onet between Augut 2000 and June 2001). Of thee, 31 occurred a part of two unrelated LAIK-aociated outbreak. The 12 other reported cae occurred in poradic fahion. Of the latter cae, 4 were aociated with LAIK urgery. None of the reported cae were related to the M. chelonae cluter in California. Concluion Laer in itu keratomileui-aociated keratiti with nontuberculou mycobacteria may be more common than previouly known.