Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a ubiquitous Gram-negative bacterium associated with microbial keratitis and one of the most destructive of all opportunistic patho-gens. P. aeruginosa keratitis (PA keratitis) progresses rapidly and is characterized by the infiltration of inflammatory cells and tissue destruction, which can lead to corneal perforation [1]. Recent reports confirm that contact lens wear is the most common risk factor for keratitis and that the most commonly isolated organism is P. aeruginosa [2-4], even in patients who follow routine disinfection procedures [5]. In 2002, it was reported that 25,000–30,000 contact lens wearers developed microbial keratitis annually in the United States [6] and that up to 39 % of these cases are caused by P. aeruginosa [7,8]. Although relatively rare, bacterial keratitis remains a serious complication of contact lens wear. Currently, there are at leas