Endogenous endophthalmitis associated with liver abscess caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae

Bilateral Endogenous Klebsiella pneumoniae Endophthalmitis in Culture-Negative Liver Abscess Requiring Evisceration: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Endogenous endophthalmitis is a very rare but potentially devastating intraocular inflammation resulting from hematogenous dissemination into the eye from a remote focus of infection. We present a case of a 49-year-old Vietnamese gentleman with underlying hypertension and ischemic heart disease who presented with sudden onset bilateral eye blurring of vision for five days associated with fever, chills, and rigors. He started to have a chesty cough with right-sided pleuritic chest pain for three days as well as shortness of breath, which developed one day prior to admission. Bilateral ocular examinations and B-scan ultrasonography were consistent with endophthalmitis. A systemic workup was performed and showed multiloculated liver abscess and right lung empyema seen radiologically. Bilateral eye vitreous tap and intravitreal antibiotic injection were performed. He underwent ultrasound-guided pigtail catheter insertion and drainage of the subcapsular and pelvic collection. Microbiological findings revealed Klebsiella pneumoniae infection obtained from vitreous and endotracheal aspirate samples. There were no cultures yielded from the intraabdominal collection and peripheral blood. The right eye infection rapidly progressed to panophthalmitis, which subsequently led to globe perforation despite prompt treatment and eventually required evisceration. Thus, despite culture-negative pyogenic liver abscess in a non-diabetic patient, a high index of suspicion, emergent radiographic evaluation, and prompt intervention and treatment are crucial in salvaging the globes.

Gram-Negative Endogenous Endophthalmitis: A Systematic Review

Background: Gram-negative bacteria are causative agents of endogenous endophthalmitis (EBE). We aim to systematically review the current literature to assess the aetiologies, risk factors, and early ocular lesions in cases of Gram-negative EBE. Methods: All peer-reviewed articles between January 2002 and August 2022 regarding Gram-negative EBE were included. We conducted a literature search on PubMed and Cochrane Controlled Trials. Results: A total of 115 studies and 591 patients were included, prevalently Asian (98; 81.7%) and male (302; 62.9%). The most common comorbidity was diabetes (231; 55%). The main aetiologies were Klebsiella pneumoniae (510; 66.1%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (111; 14.4%), and Escherichia coli (60; 7.8%). Liver abscesses (266; 54.5%) were the predominant source of infection. The most frequent ocular lesions were vitreal opacity (134; 49.6%) and hypopyon (95; 35.2%). Ceftriaxone (76; 30.9%), fluoroquinolones (14; 14.4%), and ceftazidime (213; 78.0%) were the most widely used as systemic, topical, and intravitreal anti-Gram-negative agents, respectively. The most reported surgical approaches were vitrectomy (130; 24.1%) and evisceration/exenteration (60; 11.1%). Frequently, visual acuity at discharge was no light perception (301; 55.2%). Conclusions: Gram-negative EBEs are associated with poor outcomes. Our systematic review is mainly based on case reports and case series with significant heterogeneity. The main strength is the large sample spanning over 20 years. Our findings underscore the importance of considering ocular involvement in Gram-negative infections.

Fatal disseminated pyogenic infection due to hypermucoviscous hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae: A case report and literature review

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumonia is becoming recognized globally and has been associated with serious sequelae including death. However, ethnicity and metastatic infections are characteristics for hypermucoviscous hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) and should be rolled in/out by PCR and/or string test.

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae Endogenous Endophthalmitis-A Global Emerging Disease

The review aims to document the new emerging hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) endogenous endophthalmitis (EKE) in terms of incidence, microbiological characterization of the pathogenic agent, associated risk factors, management, and outcomes. Hypervirulent (hv) strains of KP (hvKp) induce invasive liver abscesses (LA) with specific clinical features. Up to 80–90% of cases have hepatic liver abscess as a primary focus of infection, followed by renal or lung hvKp infections. However, the incidence of EKE in patients with KPLA varied between 3.4% (19) and 12.6% (13), with a total of 95 cases of endophthalmitis in 1455 cases of KPLA (6.5%). Severe visual loss was encountered in 75% of cases, with 25% bilateral involvement. Intravitreal antibiotics are the mainstay therapeutic approach. Pars plana vitrectomy is a subject of controversy. HvKp strains present mostly natural “wild-type” antibiotic resistance profile suggestive for community-acquired infections, being highly susceptive to the third and fourth generation of cephalosporins and carbapenems. Antimicrobial resistance in hypervirulent strains was recently documented via plasmid transfer and may result in extremely difficult to treat cases. Global dissemination of these strains is a major epidemiologic shift that should be considered in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of patients with endogenous endophthalmitis. Ophthalmologic screening in patients with KPLA and other hvKp infections and a multidisciplinary therapeutic approach is extremely important for early diagnosis and preservation of the visual function.

Importation of Entamoeba histolytica and predominance of Klebsiella pneumoniae in liver abscesses: a 7-year retrospective cohort study from the United Arab Emirates

BACKGROUND

There is a dearth of information on liver abscesses in the United Arab Emirates. Herein, we describe the clinical features of liver abscesses and determine their incidence rates and clinical outcomes.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical charts of adult patients with a primary diagnosis of liver abscess at a major hospital over a 7-year period.

RESULTS

Amongst 45 patients, 82.2% (37/45) had a pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) and 17.8% (8/45) had amoebic liver abscesses (ALA). Overall, patients were young (median age 42 years, IQR 35-52), mostly males (77.8%, 35/45) from the Indian subcontinent (55.6%, 25/45), presented with fever (88.9%, 40/45) and abdominal pain (88.9%, 40/45), and had a solitary abscess on imaging (71.1% (32/45). Crude annual incidence rates were 35.9/100,000 hospital admissions (95% CI 26.2-48.0) and 5.9/100,000 inhabitants (95% CI 4.3-7.9). All ALA patients were from the Indian subcontinent (100%, 8/8). Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most frequent pathogen in PLA (43.2% [16/37], 95% CI 27.1-60.5%). The hospital stay was shorter in ALA (7.5 days, IQR 7-8.5) than in PLA (14 days, IQR 9-17). No deaths were recorded within 30 days of hospitalisation.

CONCLUSIONS

ALA was exclusively seen in migrants from the Indian subcontinent, suggesting importation. Further research to characterise K. pneumoniae isolates and assess potential risk factors is needed.

Renal abscesses and endogenous endophthalmitis due to hypermucoviscous hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (HVKP)

We describe a diabetic patient with left eye endogenous endophthalmitis due to hypervirulent hypermucoviscous Klebsiella pneumoniae (HKVP) originating from right renal abscesses. A rare source of HVKP causing endogenous endophthalmitis. Despite treatment with intravenous ceftazidime and pars plana vitrectomy, the patient required evisceration of the left eye. A high index of suspicion for endogenous endophthalmitis and awareness of the virulence and potential antibiotic resistance of HVKP strains in the community is needed to avoid vision and life-threatening consequences.

Endogenous Endophthalmitis Associated with Pyogenic Liver Abscess Caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae

We report 2 cases of endogenous endophthalmitis associated with pyogenic liver abscess caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Case 1 involved a 70-year-old woman and case 2 involved a 50-year-old man who were admitted to our hospital with diagnoses of liver abscess and endogenous endophthalmitis, respectively. The liver abscess resolved with antibiotics and percutaneous transhepatic drainage in case 1 and with antibiotics alone in case 2. Even though both cases underwent ophthalmic surgery, they were discharged from our hospital without the recovery of their eyesight. An earlier diagnosis and treatment are needed to improve the prognosis of endophthalmitis.

Systematic review of 342 cases of endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis

We review a total of 342 cases of endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis reported between 1986 and 2012. Predisposing conditions were present in 60%, most commonly diabetes, intravenous drug use, and malignancy. The most common sources of infection were liver, lung, endocardium, urinary tract, and meninges. Systemic features such as fever were present in 74%, hypopyon in 35%, and an absent fundal view in 40%. Diagnostic delay occurred in 26%. Blood cultures were positive in 56%, and at least one intraocular sample was positive in 58% (comprising 26% anterior chamber samples, 59% vitreous taps, and 41% vitrectomy specimens). Worldwide, Gram negative infections (55%) were more frequent than Gram positive (45%) infections, particularly in Asia. Over the last decade, 11% of eyes were treated with systemic antibiotics alone, 10% intravitreal antibiotics alone, 36% systemic plus intravitreal antibiotics, and 20% systemic plus intravitreal antibiotics plus pars plana vitrectomy. The most commonly used intravitreal antibiotics were vancomycin (for Gram positive infection) and ceftazidime (Gram negative). The median final visual acuity was 20/100, with 44% worse than 20/200. Among all cases, 24% required evisceration or enucleation, and mortality was 4%. Both intravitreal dexamethasone and vitrectomy were each associated with a significantly greater chance of retaining 20/200 or better and significantly fewer eviscerations or enucleations-these warrant further study. For most patients, treatment should include a thorough systemic evaluation and prompt intravitreal and systemic antibiotics.

The emergence of Klebsiella pneumoniae endogenous endophthalmitis in the USA: basic and clinical advances

Endogenous endophthalmitis (EE) is a rare but devastating infection that occurs secondary to seeding of the intraocular cavity from an extraocular focus. Recent reports suggest the increasing prevalence and incidence of Klebsiella pneumoniae as a causative organism in Asian countries. Analysis of the largest cohorts published to date suggests that K. pneumoniae endogenous endophthalmitis (KPEE) is 10 to 15 times more prevalent than other causes of EE. The incidence of KPEE among patients with systemic Klebsiella infection appears to be >100-fold more common than other causes of EE. The exact reason for these observations is not clear, but a number of studies now suggest that Klebsiella serotypes K1 and K2 have virulence factors that enhance their survival in diabetic patients and increase their pathogenicity. Here, we report two cases of KPEE in the USA. We also review the recent clinical and basic science literature on the prevalence, incidence, and pathophysiology of this emerging and devastating infection.

Long-term mortality of patients with septic ocular or central nervous system complications from pyogenic liver abscess: a population-based study

Background

Taiwan is endemic for pyogenic liver abscess (PLA). Septic ocular or central nervous system (CNS) complications derived from PLA can result in catastrophic disability. We investigated the epidemiology and long-term prognosis of PLA patients with septic ocular or CNS complications over an 8-year period.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We extracted 21,307 patients with newly diagnosed PLA from a nationwide health registry in Taiwan between 2000 and 2007. The frequency of and risk factors for PLA with septic ocular or CNS complications were determined. The 2-year survival of these patients was compared between those with and without septic ocular or CNS complications. Septic ocular or CNS complications accounted for 2.1% of all PLA patients. Age and the Charlson comorbidity index were significantly lower in PLA patients with ocular or CNS complications than those without. Diabetes and age <65 years were independent predictors of septic ocular or CNS complications. The 2-year mortality of patients with septic ocular or CNS complications was similar to those without complications (24.8% vs. 27.5%, p = 0.502). However, among patients <65 years old and a Charlson index ≤1, the 2-year mortality was significantly higher in those with than without complications (18.6% vs. 11.8%, p = 0.001).

Conclusions/Significance

Physicians should recognize that catastrophic disability due to ocular or neurological complications from PLA could lead to a poor long-term prognosis, and should follow-up these patients more closely.