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Background: Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is an abnormal immune-response causing extensive exfoliation of the mucocutaneous tissue including conjunctiva. While several factors are associated with the alteration of conjunctival microbiota, the conjunctiva of SJS patients are found to harbor a different microbiota compared to healthy subjects. We investigated the conjunctival microbiota of Korean SJS patients, and identified factors associated with the conjunctival microbiota and its positive culture.Methods: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed in 30 chronic SJS patients who had undergone conjunctival swab culture sampling. Demographic factors, chronic ocular surface complications score (COCS), tear break-up time (TBUT), tear secretion, tear matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), and results of conjunctival swab culture were assessed.Results: Positive culture was seen in 58.1%. Gram positive bacteria was most commonly isolated, among which Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (45.5%) and Corynebacterium species (40.9%) were predominantly observed. Tear MMP9 positivity was observed significantly more in the positive culture group (100%) compared to the negative culture group (70%) (P = 0.041). Topical cyclosporine and corticosteroid were not associated with repetitive positive cultures. No significant differences in COCS, TBUT, and tear secretion were found between culture-positive and culture-negative groups.Conclusion: Our study suggests that tear MMP9 positivity may be related with the presence of an abnormal ocular surface microbiota in chronic SJS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to investigate the outcome of therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPK) for medically-uncontrolled infectious keratitis, and to determine the factors associated with the recurrence of infection after TPK. Methods: A 10-year retrospective study of medically-uncontrolled infectious keratitis with positive culture results, who received TPK at a tertiary referral center in Korea was performed. Data collection included patient demographics, medical history, pre- and post-operative findings, surgical procedures, causative microorganisms, and visual acuities (VA). The primary outcome measure was the recurrence of infection after TPK, and the factors were compared between patients with and without recurrence. Results: A total of 19 patients (19 eyes) were analyzed, of which 6 eyes (31.6%) had infection recurrence at 21.6 ± 22.84 months after TPK. Recurrence occurred more frequently in the female sex (vs. male, p = 0.013) and in longer duration (>30 days) from infection onset to TPK (vs. ≤30 days, p = 0.025). Final best-corrected-VA was poorer in patients with recurrence than those without (LogMAR 1.60 ± 0.97 vs. 2.40 ± 0.46, p = 0.026). Evisceration was performed in 2 out of 6 patients with recurrence (33.3%), while none was performed in those without recurrence (p = 0.028). Conclusion: Infection recurrence after TPK was 31.6%. Given the poor outcome of TPK in eyes with recurrence, close monitoring and intensive treatment are required post-TPK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]