Endogenous bacterial and fungal endophthalmitis

Fungal panophthalmitis presenting as severe posterior scleritis

Purpose

To report a highly unusual and fulminant case of infectious fungal panophthalmitis that initially presented as angle closure in the setting of posterior scleritis, culminating in the loss of the affected eye.

Observations

A 57-year-old woman with a history of poorly controlled diabetes mellitus and autoimmune disease presented with a unilateral flat anterior chamber, highly elevated intraocular pressure (50-65 mmHg) and severe chemosis of the right eye. Initial VA was NLP in the affected eye. An ultrasound B-scan revealed a very pronounced T-sign and severely thickened posterior sclera and choroid indicative of posterior scleritis. Bloodwork showed elevation of WBC count to 18 K/μL and broad spectrum antibiotics were initiated. However, a comprehensive infectious workup including fungal cultures were persistently negative. After three days of IV NSAIDs and antibiotics, WBC count normalized and pain had mildly improved. After consultation with a multidisciplinary team that included the Glaucoma, Retina/Uveitis, Infectious Disease, Rheumatology and Internal Medicine services, high dose IV methylprednisolone was started. Despite the initial improvement, corneoscleral decompensation and paralimbal perforation of the globe occurred. The eye was enucleated, and pathologic examination revealed a dense focus of budding yeast in the vitreous cavity.

Conclusions and importance

Scleritis is a rare entity, with posterior scleritis, infectious scleritis, and fungal scleritis representing increasingly rare subtypes. However, fungal scleritis may be underdiagnosed due to a number of factors including culture negativity, a lack of clinical suspicion, as well as the disease's propensity to masquerade as other pathologies such as angle closure or malignant glaucoma. Fungal scleritis should be considered in cases that present with possible infectious etiology, worsen with systemic corticosteroid treatment, or worsen despite broad-spectrum antibiotic coverage. When treating patients with underlying risk factors such as uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, recent antibiotic use, use of total parenteral nutrition, or immunosuppression, a higher level of suspicion for fungal etiology is also appropriate. In the outpatient setting, fungal eye infections do not always present with critical systemic illness or culture positivity. If there is suspicion for fungal involvement, early aqueous or vitreous tap may improve diagnostic yield.

Endophthalmitis in Silicone Oil-Filled Eyes

Incidences of post pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) endophthalmitis vary between 0.02% and 0.13%, and infectious endophthalmitis in silicone oil-filled eyes is even rarer. We performed a literature review to describe the incidence, protective and predisposing factors, causative pathogens, management options, and prognosis of infectious endophthalmitis in silicone oil-filled eyes. Various studies have elucidated different aspects of this condition. Causative pathogens commonly include commensals. Traditional management involves the removal of silicone oil (SO), intravitreal antibiotics and then SO re-injection. Alternatively, injecting intravitreal antibiotics into silicone oil-filled eyes has also been reported. Visual prognoses are uniformly guarded. Due to the uncommon nature of this condition, studies are limited either by their retrospective design or by small sample sizes. However, observational studies, case series, and case reports can play an important role in rare conditions until larger studies are conducted. This comprehensive review aims to summarise the information available in the literature, to act as a good source for ophthalmologists looking for answers on this topic, and to suggest areas for future development.

ENDOPHTHALMITIS IN OPHTHALMOLOGICAL REFERRAL CENTRE IN COLOMBIA: AETIOLOGY AND MICROBIAL RESISTANCE

AIMS

To describe the aetiology and microbial susceptibility profile of endophthalmitis cases treated at an ophthalmological referral centre in Colombia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective descriptive study was carried out with all endophthalmitis cases referred to the Fundación Oftalmológica de Santander FOSCAL (Floridablanca, Colombia) from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2015.

RESULTS

121 eyes of 121 patients were evaluated. 77.7% of them were male and the mean age was 42.9 years. Five of them (4.1%) corresponded to endogenous endophthalmitis, and 116 (95.9%) to exogenous endophthalmitis. Of the latter, 66.9% were associated with trauma (almost one-half of them associated with intraocular foreign body), and 29.5% with intraocular surgery. The most common isolated microorganisms in the exogenous endophthalmitis group corresponded to methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus, which were mostly susceptible to imipenem, vancomycin and moxifloxacin and resistant to ceftazidime.

CONCLUSION

Endophthalmitis is a potentially sight-threatening condition, especially in cases of inadequate treatment. Therefore, antimicrobial therapy should be guided by vitreous humour culture to assure that the causative microorganism is susceptible to the selected agent. The results of our study lead us to propose vancomycin, moxifloxacin or imipenem as first-line antimicrobial options.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Endogenous Endophthalmitis in Patients with Long-term Steroid Use

Purpose: To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of endogenous endophthalmitis (EE) in patients with a history of long-term oral corticosteroid (LTOC) use.Methods: This study was a retrospective review of the medical records of 17 patients (20 eyes) who were diagnosed and treated for EE from LTOC use from March 2004 to December 2019.Results: The mean age of the patients was 70.0 years, and 58.8% were men. Bilateral involvement was observed in three patients (17.6%). Predisposing medical conditions for steroid use were arthritis (6, 35.3%), renal disease (5, 29.4%), lung disease (5, 29.4%), and dermatologic disease (1, 5.9%). The most common causative agents were Gram-positive organisms (60.0%). All patients were treated with systemic antibiotics and vitreous tapping with intravitreal antibiotics or antifungal injection. Pars plana vitrectomy with intravitreal injection of antibiotics was performed in 11 eyes (55.0%). The initial best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20 eyes was 1.83 ± 0.79 and final BCVA was 0.70 ± 0.98 (p < 0.001). We analyzed the correlation between final visual acuity and initial visual acuity, causative organisms, sepsis, and vitrectomy. The results indicated a poor visual acuity prognosis for the patient group with sepsis.Conclusions: Our study revealed that LTOCs can induce EE. Gram-positive bacteria were the most common causative organisms of EE from LTOC use. The patient group with sepsis showed a worse visual acuity prognosis than the other groups.

Endophthalmitis in Oman: A descriptive retrospective multi-center study

PURPOSE:

The aim of this study is to report the anatomical and functional outcome, microbiology profile and treatment used for endophthalmitis in Oman.

DESIGN:

The study design involves retrospective descriptive multicenter study.

METHODS:

Demographic and clinical data of patients diagnosed with endophthalmitis over a period of 9 years were collected in three tertiary hospitals in Oman.

RESULTS:

A total of 50 endophthalmitis cases were included in the study. Exogenous endophthalmitis was diagnosed in 48 cases, whereas 2 cases were endogenous endophthalmitis. Culture-positive cases constituted 16 cases (32%) out of these, 12 cases were Gram-positive, 3 cases were Gram-negative and one case had a positive fungal culture. Immediate first-line treatment was vitreous tap and inject in 33 eyes and vitrectomy in 13 eyes. In 45 eyes in which the visual acuity (VA) was recorded; VA after treatment improved in 22 eyes (49%), remained the same in 16 eyes (36%) and worsened in 7 eyes (16%).

CONCLUSION:

Although endophthalmitis is rare, it is a devastating ocular emergency. Early diagnosis and prompt intervention are crucial in management. Awareness among the patients undergoing intraocular surgeries about this rare condition is very crucial. Moreover, frontline health-care providers must be aware and critical if they encounter patients with suspicion of endophthalmitis as early recognition, prompt referral, and timely treatment are the key for better visual prognosis. Finally, establishing a National Endophthalmitis Registry is recommended as it will help analyze the incidence, treatment instituted and the outcome of this condition across Oman.

Antimycotic Activity of Ozonized Oil in Liposome Eye Drops against Candida spp

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the antifungal activity and mechanism of action of ozonized oil eye drops in liposomes (Ozodrop), commercialized as eye lubricant for the treatment of dry eye syndrome and eye inflammation. The activity was tested against four clinical Candida species: C albicans, C glabrata, C krusei, and C orthopsilosis.

Methods

The antifungal activity of the eye drop solution was ascertained by microdilution method in accordance with EUCAST obtaining the minimum inhibitory concentration for Ozodrop. The mechanism of action was further investigated in C albicans by measuring cell vitality, intracellular reactive oxygen species production, levels of cellular and mitochondrial (∆Ψ_m) membrane potential, and the extent of membrane lipid peroxidation.

Results

All Candida isolates were susceptible to Ozodrop with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 0.195% (v/v) for C glabrata to 6.25% (v/v) for C orthopsilosis. After 1 hour of exposure at the minimum inhibitory concentration value about 30% of cells were killed, reaching about 70% at the highest Ozodrop value. After Ozodrop exposure, C albicans showed cell membrane depolarization, increased levels of lipid peroxidation, depolarized ∆Ψ_m, and increased reactive oxygen species generation.

Conclusions

The significant increases in reactive oxygen species production cause the accumulation of reactive oxygen species-associated damages leading to progressive Candida cell dysfunction.

Translational Relevance

The antifungal activity of Ozodrop was demonstrated at concentrations several times lower than the concentration that can be retrieved in ocular surface after its application. The antifungal activity of the eye drops Ozodrop would represent an interesting off-label indication for a product basically conceived as an eye lubricant.

FUSARIUM SOLANI SUBRETINAL ABSCESS IN A PATIENT WITH ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA

PURPOSE

To report on a case of Fusarium solani subretinal abscess in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia treated with an allogenic bone marrow transplant.

METHODS

A 47-year-old male with a history of acute myeloid leukemia with intermediate cytogenetic risk was admitted in our hospital. The disease relapsed after two cycles of chemotherapy. He was then treated with an allogenic bone marrow transplant, with busulfan, cyclophosphamide, and thymoglobulin. One week after the procedure, a sepsis of unknown origin in neutropenia occurred. Blood cultures and sputum were negative for bacteria and fungi. At the eighth week after the procedure, the patient had acute vision loss of the right eye. Funduscopy in the right eye revealed an inferior temporal yellowish white elevated lesion of approximately 10 disk areas and superficial perifoveal and perilesional hemorrhages.

RESULTS

Vitrectomy was performed and samples from the vitreous and the subretinal abscess material were sent for analysis. Vitreous and subretinal specimens grew colonies of a fungus morphologically consistent with F. solani.

CONCLUSION

Fusarium solani should be included in the differential diagnosis of subretinal abscesses.

An Outbreak of Endogenous Fungal Endophthalmitis Among Intravenous Drug Abusers in New England

Importance

Intravenous drug abuse (IVDA) is a known risk factor for endogenous fungal endophthalmitis (EFE), a severe intraocular infection caused by hematogenous seeding of mycotic organisms to the eye. Reporting significant increases in heroin-related deaths since 2014, the New England region is in the midst of an opioid crisis that has led to a substantial increase in patients at risk for this vision-threatening disease.

Objective

To present an update on characteristics, management, and visual outcomes in patients with EFE.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Medical records review was initiated on July 1, 2016, evaluating all patients with EFE referred to New England Eye Center at Tufts Medical Center, a tertiary care ophthalmology practice distributed throughout Massachusetts, from May 1, 2014, to May 1, 2016. Patients with a history of IVDA and culture-proven or clinical evidence of fungal endophthalmitis were included.

Exposures

Intravenous drug use.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Patient demographics, comorbidities, presenting symptoms and vision, vitreoretinal findings, treatment regimens, culture data, and final visual acuities.

Results

Ten patients (5 women) with IVDA-related EFE were identified between May 1, 2014, and May 1, 2016-an increase from 3 patients treated from May 2012 to April 2014. The mean (SD) patient age was 34 (11) years (range, 24-60 years). Presenting visual acuities ranged from 20/25 to hand motion. The most common presenting symptoms were floaters (n = 8), reduced vision (n = 6), and pain (n = 5). Initial treatment included systemic antifungals in all patients and intravitreal antifungals in 9 eyes. Five patients required pars plana vitrectomy for worsening vitritis. The most commonly isolated pathogen was Candida albicans in 20% of the patients. Final visual acuity ranged from 20/40 to 20/300.

Conclusions and Relevance

The data provided in this report suggest that EFE represents severe end organ damage associated with IVDA and portends poor visual outcomes. Health care professionals must maintain a high suspicion for EFE, as patients are typically ambulatory on presentation without systemic signs of infection.

Endogenous Endophthalmitis after Severe Burn: A Case Report

Purpose:

This report describes a rare ocular complication in a burned patient.

Case Report:

A 12-year-old girl was admitted to our burn center because of full thickness burn of 46% of her total body surface area. On the 23^rd day of her stay, she complained of pain and decreased visual acuity in the right eye. Examination of this eye revealed panuveitis, dense vitritis, and a large chorioretinal abscess in the macular area; her best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in this eye was hand motion. The left eye was completely normal. A smear and culture of the vitreous biopsy revealed the presence of Candida albicans. With a diagnosis of endogenous endophthalmitis due to fungal infection, the patient was treated with systemic fluconazole, intravitreal injection of Amphotericin B, and pars plana deep vitrectomy. After 6 months, the patient's final ocular examination revealed BCVA of counting fingers at two meters, a large macular scar, and quiescence of the intraocular infection.

Conclusion:

Burn patients treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics are at risk of candidemia and its complications, including endogenous endophthalmitis. Early diagnosis of endogenous endophthalmitis in high risk patients could prevent visual loss.

Iris abscess a rare presentation of intravenous drug abuse associated Candida endophthalmitis

Purpose

To describe an unusual case of intravenous drug abuse associated endogenous endophthalmitis presenting with an iris abscess.

Observations

A 30-year old female with history of intravenous drug use presented with a two-week history of redness and blurry vision in the right eye. An initial diagnosis of anterior uveitis was made. However, she worsened on topical steroids and mydriatics. She was found to have a hypopyon and an iris abscess. She received broad spectrum antibiotic and antifungal treatment with voriconazole, this lead to significant clinical improvement. She was discharged on oral fluconazole and lost to follow up. The patient was noncompliant with the antifungal treatment. The hypopyon and iris abscess recurred, and she required a vitrectomy with iridectomy, along with intravitreal and systemic antifungal treatment. The vitreous cultures and surgical specimen of iris issue were positive for Candida albicans, and she received voriconazole. This led to resolution of the condition with a final visual acuity of 20/20 at six month follow up.

Conclusions and importance

An iris abscess is a rare clinical presentation of intravenous drug use-associated endogenous endophthalmitis and as a result may present a diagnostic challenge as it requires a high level of clinical suspicion and a detailed social history to elicit the drug abuse. Early diagnosis and aggressive therapy is the key to better visual outcomes in these patients.

Risk factors for endophthalmitis requiring evisceration or enucleation

Endophthalmitis has devastating sequelae resulting in blindness and even loss of eyeball. Although the prognosis of endophthalmitis has much improved with the advances of antibiotics and vitreoretinal surgery, of the number of patients that required evisceration or enucleation is still significant. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 210 eyes of 210 patients with endophthalmitis andcompared the group that required evisceration or enucleation with those that received salvaging therapies. Regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for evisceration or enucleation. Thirty eyes (14.3%) underwent enucleation or evisceration. The group of eviscerated or enucleated eyes were older (58.7 vs. 42.2 years, p < 0.001), had more women (56.7% vs. 22.2%, p = 0.003), had poorer initial visual acuity (2.79 vs. 2.10 LogMAR, p < 0.001), and had longer duration before intervention (18.03 vs. 5.74 days, p = 0.031). The most common primary indications for endophthalmitis were infections from corneal ulcer (50.0% vs. 4.4%, p < 0.001) andfrom endogenous source (23.3% vs. 5.6%, p < 0.001). Less common indications were trauma (26.7% vs. 67.8%, p < 0.001) and postoperative (6.7% vs. 22.2%, p = 0.049) endophthalmitis. After adjusting for confounding factors, corneal ulcer-related endophthalmitis, endogenous endophthalmitis and initial visual acuity were the independent risk factors for evisceration or enucleation.

Immune recovery uveitis in a patient with previously undiagnosed cytomegalovirus retinitis

A 40-year-old man presented to the emergency service of the Department of Ophthalmology, Fundación Oftalmológica de Santander, Floridablanca, Colombia, with blurred vision in his right eye. Anamnesis revealed that he also had newly diagnosed stage C HIV. He had recently started highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Examination disclosed intraocular inflammation, along with plain white peripheral non-exudative lesions with sparse haemorrhaging. The differential diagnosis included cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis and immune recovery uveitis (IRU). On follow-up, the patient's left eye presented with decreased visual acuity and increased vitreous haze. A vitrectomy with vitreous tap was performed for microbiological studies. PCR for CMV in the vitreous sample was negative. The patient was discharged with the final diagnosis of IRU. In HIV patients with uveitis, the knowledge of characteristic signs and symptoms of particular entities such as opportunistic infections and IRU will enable the clinician to give the appropriate treatment.

Endogenous endophthalmitis: diagnosis, management, and prognosis

Endogenous endophthalmitis is an ophthalmic emergency that can have severe sight-threatening complications. It is often a diagnostic challenge because it can manifest at any age and is associated with a number of underlying predisposing factors. Microorganisms associated with this condition vary along a broad spectrum. Depending upon the severity of the disease, both medical and surgical interventions may be employed. Due to rarity of the disease, there are no guidelines in literature for optimal management of these patients. In this review, treatment guidelines based on clinical data and microorganism profile have been proposed.

Chronic exogenous exophiala dermatitidis endophthalmitis

PURPOSE

To describe a case of chronic exogenous Exophiala dermatitidis endophthalmitis.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review and case report.

RESULTS

A 60-year-old man with history of chronic herpes zoster keratitis complicated by secondary fungal keratitis treated with penetrating keratoplasty presented with a white cataract, chronic anterior uveitis, and counting fingers vision in the left eye. Combined cataract extraction and diagnostic vitrectomy revealed positive cultures and polymerase chain reaction-based testing for E. dermatitidis-the same organism responsible for the keratitis. The patient was treated with multiple oral, intravenous, and intravitreal antifungal agents. Ultimately, the corneal infection recurred and the patient elected to undergo enucleation. Filamentous fungi consistent with E. dermatitidis infection were identified in the cornea of the enucleation specimen.

CONCLUSION

Although rare, Exophiala species can cause exogenous endophthalmitis. Chronic endophthalmitis should be suspected in patients who develop persistent intraocular inflammation after infectious keratitis.

Endophthalmitis: state of the art

Endophthalmitis is an uncommon diagnosis but can have devastating visual outcomes. Endophthalmitis may be endogenous or exogenous. Exogenous endophthalmitis is caused by introduction of pathogens through mechanisms such as ocular surgery, open-globe trauma, and intravitreal injections. Endogenous endophthalmitis occurs as a result of hematogenous spread of bacteria or fungi into the eye. These categories of endophthalmitis have different risk factors and causative pathogens, and thus require different diagnostic, prevention, and treatment strategies. Novel diagnostic techniques such as real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) have been reported to provide improved diagnostic results over traditional culture techniques and may have a more expanded role in the future. While the role of povidone-iodine in prophylaxis of postoperative endophthalmitis is established, there remains controversy with regard to the effectiveness of other measures, including prophylactic antibiotics. The Endophthalmitis Vitrectomy Study (EVS) has provided us with valuable treatment guidelines. However, these guidelines cannot be directly applied to all categories of endophthalmitis, highlighting the need for continued research into attaining improved treatment outcomes.

Pediatric infectious endophthalmitis: a review

Infectious endophthalmitis is a rare but severe complication of septecemia, intraocular surgeries, or penetrating eye trauma. The etiology, prognosis, and management of pediatric endophthalmitis resulting from exogenous and endogenous infections are reviewed. Open-globe trauma and glaucoma surgery are the most frequent causes of endophthalmitis in children, whereas endogenous infection is the least common cause. Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species are common bacterial agents in both posttraumatic and postoperative pediatric endophthalmitis, whereas Candida albicans is a commonly reported organism in endogenous endophthalmitis. Additionally, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae appear more likely as pathogens in children than in adults. The clinical manifestations and outcome usually correlate with the virulence of the infecting organism. The visual prognosis of endophthalmitis is generally poor.

Severe bacterial endophthalmitis: towards improving clinical outcomes

Endophthalmitis is an infection and inflammation of the interior of the eye that can result in significant vision loss. This infection occurs as a result of the seeding of organisms into the interior of the eye following surgery (postoperative), trauma (post-traumatic) or an infection in another site in the body (endogenous). The general rate of endophthalmitis has remained steady over the past several years. However, the increased use of intraocular injections to treat various degenerative and inflammatory ocular diseases, in addition to the already large and growing number of invasive ocular surgeries, may increase the opportunities in which organisms can gain access to the eye. In most cases of endophthalmitis, useful vision can be retained if proper treatment is instituted. However, in severe cases of bacterial endophthalmitis, blindness often occurs despite treatment. This article summarizes information on endophthalmitis epidemiology, treatment issues and current regimens, and recent experimental and clinical efforts to improve the outcome of severe and blinding forms of bacterial endophthalmitis.

Etiological agents of fungal endophthalmitis: diagnosis and management

Endophthalmitis caused by fungi is commonly diagnosed around the world in apparently healthy and immunocompromised individuals. An accurate clinical diagnosis for endophthalmitis confirmed by laboratory techniques is essential for early treatment with antifungal drugs, such as amphotericin B, imidazoles, and other antifungals. Here, we review endophthalmitis caused by fungi according to its classification into endogenous fungal endophthalmitis (EFE) and exogenous fungal endophthalmitis (EXFE). EFE is caused by endogenously acquired fungi, whereas the traumatic implantation of opportunistic fungal pathogens is the main feature of EXFE. We highlight the most important etiologies causing endophthalmitis and the steps required for a rapid diagnosis and management.

Bacterial endophthalmitis in the age of outpatient intravitreal therapies and cataract surgeries: host-microbe interactions in intraocular infection

Bacterial endophthalmitis is a sight threatening infection of the interior structures of the eye. Incidence in the US has increased in recent years, which appears to be related to procedures being performed on an aging population. The advent of outpatient intravitreal therapy for management of age-related macular degeneration raises yet additional risks. Compounding the problem is the continuing progression of antibiotic resistance. Visual prognosis for endophthalmitis depends on the virulence of the causative organism, the severity of intraocular inflammation, and the timeliness of effective therapy. We review the current understanding of the pathogenesis of bacterial endophthalmitis, highlighting opportunities for the development of improved therapeutics and preventive strategies.

The microbiology of endophthalmitis: global trends and a local perspective

Endophthalmitis is a rare but frequently devastating infection, caused by diverse organisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. The causative agents of endophthalmitis vary according to the mechanism. The involvement of intraocular structures can result from exogenous spread from ocular trauma, infection of adjacent structures, or as a complication of intraocular surgery. Of the causes of exogenous endophthalmitis, post-operative endophthalmitis is the most frequently encountered; specifically, cataract surgery is the most frequent eye surgery and, thus, leads the list of surgery-associated endophthalmitis. Exogenous source is far more common than endogenous endophthalmitis, a disease that is caused by the hematogenous spread of organisms from a remote infectious site to the eye, leading to severe visual loss. Several large series estimate that endogenous endophthalmitis accounts for 2-15 % of all cases of endophthalmitis. Progressive vitritis is a hallmark for all forms of endophthalmitis, accompanied by intraocular inflammation, loss of vision, pain, and hypopyon. The common presentation consists of reduced vision, conjunctival injection, pain, and eyelid swelling. We reviewed the microbiology of endophthalmitis during a 9-year period in Winnipeg, Canada. Gram-positive bacteria with coagulase-negative staphylococci are the most common causative organisms, reflecting the association with surgical procedures.

Fungal, Mycobacterial, and Nocardia infections and the eye: an update

Although relatively uncommon, fungi, atypical Mycobacteria, and Nocardia have been isolated from a variety of infections of eye including keratitis, scleritis, canaliculitis, dacryocystitis, endophthalmitis and orbital cellulites. The organisms typically cause a slowly progressive disease. The diseases caused by the organisms can pose both diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. In this manuscript we will describe updates on important aspects of the ocular infections caused by these organisms.

Endogenous methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus endophthalmitis

PURPOSE

To report on the presentation, treatment, and outcomes of the largest series to date for patients with endogenous methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus endophthalmitis at a single institution and compare the results from previously published reports of this disease entity.

METHODS

Retrospective, noncomparative, consecutive case series of patients who were treated for endogenous methicillin-resistant S. aureus endophthalmitis from a single tertiary referral institution were reviewed.

RESULTS

Eight eyes of seven consecutive patients, with a mean age of 58.1 years, were diagnosed with culture-proven endogenous methicillin-resistant S. aureus endophthalmitis. Five patients were male, and six patients had a unilateral presentation. Five of eight eyes were treated with initial vitreous tap and injection of antibiotics, and six eyes showed a retinal detachment during the course of treatment. Final visual acuity ranged from 20/40 to no light perception, and 5 of 8 eyes showed improvement in visual acuity from initial presentation. Only one eye became blind and painful and required enucleation.

CONCLUSION

This series represents the largest single-institution report on endogenous methicillin-resistant S. aureus endophthalmitis and associated outcomes. Although previously reported cases cited poor visual outcomes and high enucleation rates, the authors' current series shows that retinal detachments are common and enucleation rates are low.

Microbial profile and antibiotic susceptibility of culture-positive bacterial endophthalmitis

PURPOSE

To assess the distribution of microorganisms isolated from patients with bacterial endophthalmitis and their antimicrobial susceptibility.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of medical and microbiological records of patients with suspected diagnosis of endophthalmitis. The following information was assessed: number of presumed and culture-positive endophthalmitis cases, source of infection, microbiological result (aqueous and/or vitreous culture and Gram staining), microbial characterization and distribution, and antimicrobial susceptibility.

RESULTS

A total of 107 (46%) of 231 patients with bacterial endophthalmitis showed positive results by gram stain or culture. Of these, 97 (42%) patients were positive for culture only. Most of them (62%) were secondary to a surgical procedure (postoperative), 12% were posttraumatic and 26% were secondary to an unknown source or the data were unavailable. A total of 100 microorganisms were isolated (38 aqueous and 67 vitreous samples) from the 97 culture-positive cases (91% were gram-positive and 9% were gram-negative). Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus(CoNS) (48%) were the most frequently isolated, followed by Stretococcus viridans(18%), and Staphylococcus aureus(13%). The antimicrobial susceptibility for CoNS was as follows: amikacin-91.6%, cephalothin-97.9%, ceftriaxone-50%, ciprofloxacin-62.5%, chloramphenicol-91.8%, gatifloxacin-79.5%, gentamicin-72.9%, moxifloxacin-89.5%, ofloxacin-70.8%, oxacillin-58.3%, penicillin-33.3%, tobramycin-85.4%, and vancomycin-100%.

CONCLUSION

Gram-positive bacteria were the major causes of infectious endophthalmitis in this large series, usually following surgery. CoNS was the most common isolate. Of interest, susceptibility to oxacillin and fourth-generation quinolones was lower than previously published.

Ocular fungal infections

PURPOSE

Microbiology, clinical perspective of ocular fungal infections, and the experimental models were overviewed.

METHODS

Review of published studies were evaluated and personal experience was mentioned. In this review, clinical features of keratitis and endogenous and exogenous endophthalmitis are also mentioned, but this article mainly focused on laboratory diagnosis and the experimental models of ophthalmic mycoses.

RESULTS

Fungal infections were discussed according to the anatomical part of the eye involved in the disease. Trauma is the most important predisposing cause; the species of Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Candida are the most frequently isolated organisms. Laboratory methods, such as culture, remains the cornerstone of diagnosis; direct microscopic detection of fungal structures in ocular samples permits a rapid presumptive diagnosis. New approaches, such as serological and molecular methods, have been widely used in recent years. A variety of antifungals have been evaluated in the therapy of this condition. Experimental models would facilitate investigations exploring the pathophysiology, cell biology, genetics, immunology, and therapy of this disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Fungal infections of the eye continue to be an important cause of ocular morbidity, particularly in the developing world. Understanding ocular infections will improve the outcome of this condition.