My 5-month-old daughter has had an eye infection since birth. The infection is caused by stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacteria. Medicines have not worked. What is this bacteria and are there any suggestions on treatment?
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (s. maltophilia) is becoming somewhat more prevalent as a cause of eye infections, but it still is not a common condition. This bacterium was previously known as pseudomonas maltophilia and xanthomonas maltophilia.
Infection usually occurs in the respiratory or intestinal tracts. It is more typical for s. maltophilia to infect people with weakened immune systems or, in the case of eye infections, people who have certain other kinds of eye diseases.
As you are finding, there is a big problem with treating s. maltophilia; it is resistant to a large number of antibiotics. That is why your daughter has been given a succession of antibiotic treatments, but still has the infection.
There are a few oral antibiotics that may eradicate the bacteria, but I hesitate to recommend a specific drug when I do not know the details of your daughter’s case or her treatment history.
I suggest you make an appointment with your baby’s pediatrician to discuss the treatment strategy. If you continue to be dissatisfied with her progress, ask about a referral to an ophthamologist who specializes in treating infants.