Chronic Conjunctivitis due to Nocardia nova Complex Formation on a Silicone Stent: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

ABSTRACT

Nocardial conjunctivitis associated with silicone tubing is an extremely rare finding. The authors present a case of a 52-year-old woman with previous dacryocystorhinostomy and silicone tube placement 3 years prior who presented with OD redness and discharge for 1 week. On examination, the patient was noted to have mucoid discharge and crusting surrounding the silicone tube. The tube debris was sampled, and the culture was positive for Nocardia nova complex sensitive to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and amikacin. Silicone tube colonization and N. nova complex conjunctivitis are both rare but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with indwelling silicone tubes presenting with chronic conjunctivitis resistant to fluoroquinolones and tobramycin.