Microbial keratitis-induced endophthalmitis: incidence, symptoms, therapy, visual prognosis and outcomes

Citrobacter keratitis: predisposing factors and clinical characteristics

PURPOSE

To report predisposing factors, clinical presentation, antibiotic sensitivity, and management of Citrobacter-caused infectious keratitis.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of culture-proven cases of Citrobacter keratitis in a tertiary referral center for 8 years (from January 2012 to September 2020). Demographic data of the patients, predisposing factors, and presenting signs were extracted.

RESULTS

Eighteen cases of microbial keratitis due to Citrobacter spp. were identified. The median age of the patients was 66 years (range: 10-89, interquartile range : 59-81). Thirteen patients were male and 5 were female. Multiple predisposing factors were identified in all eyes, including ocular surface disease (n = 8), previous corneal surgery (n = 6), and history of ocular trauma (n = 6). Five patients were diabetic. Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) of patients was light perception (LP) in 8 patients, hand motion (HM) in 7, counting fingers (CF) at 1 m in 1, and CF at 2 m in 2 patients. Thirteen eyes exhibited hypopyon. An area of corneal thinning was observed in 7 eyes (38.9%). Endophthalmitis due to infectious keratitis developed in one patient. In vitro susceptibility testing confirmed high sensitivity to ceftazidime and aminoglycosides. Medical management consisted primarily of topical amikacin (20 mg/ml) combined with topical cefazoline (50 mg/ml) (72.2%). Surgical tectonic procedures were carried out in 7 eyes (38.9%).

CONCLUSION

Citrobacter spp. is a rare cause of bacterial keratitis.Previous keratoplasty and ocular surface problems are important risk factors. The prognosis is not good and surgical tectonic intervention is required in many cases to resolve the corneal infection.

Pars plana vitrectomy and therapeutic keratoplasty in endophthalmitis and infectious keratitis

PURPOSE

To describe the anatomical and functional outcomes of patients with infectious keratitis (IK) and secondary endophthalmitis who underwent penetrating keratoplasty (PK) after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) assisted by temporary keratoprosthesis (TKP).

METHODS

An observational retrospective case series was performed. Data were collected from January 2013 to July 2020. Patients over 18 years old with a clinical and microbiological diagnosis of IK, and clinical, ultrasonographic, and or microbiological diagnosis of endophthalmitis were included. Anatomical success was defined as infection resolution with preservation of the ocular globe integrity. No change or improvement of best-corrected visual acuity (VA) at the last follow-up was considered as a functional success.

RESULTS

A total of 32 eyes of 32 patients were analyzed. The anatomic success was obtained in 87.5% eyes in which the infection was eradicated. The 63% patients maintained or improved their best-corrected VA, 37.5% ended up with hand motion VA.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that PPV assisted by TKP followed by PKP can be a good approach for treating patients with endophthalmitis secondary to IK while allowing further visual improvement after an optical PK. Further prospective studies need to be done to evaluate final visual rehabilitation of these patients.

Innate immunity dysregulation in aging eye and therapeutic interventions

The prevalence of eye diseases increases considerably with age, resulting in significant vision impairment. Although the pathobiology of age-related eye diseases has been studied extensively, the contribution of immune-related changes due to aging remains elusive. In the eye, tissue-resident cells and infiltrating immune cells regulate innate responses during injury or infection. But due to aging, these cells lose their protective functions and acquire pathological phenotypes. Thus, dysregulated ocular innate immunity in the elderly increases the susceptibility and severity of eye diseases. Herein, we emphasize the impact of aging on the ocular innate immune system in the pathogenesis of infectious and non-infectious eye diseases. We discuss the role of age-related alterations in cellular metabolism, epigenetics, and cellular senescence as mechanisms underlying altered innate immune functions. Finally, we describe approaches to restore protective innate immune functions in the aging eye. Overall, the review summarizes our current understanding of innate immune functions in eye diseases and their dysregulation during aging.

Microbial Adherence to Contact Lenses and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a Model Organism for Microbial Keratitis

Microbial keratitis (MK), the infection of the cornea, is a devastating disease and the fifth leading cause of blindness and visual impairment around the world. The overwhelming majority of MK cases are linked to contact lens wear combined with factors which promote infection such as corneal abrasion, an immunocompromised state, improper contact lens use, or failing to routinely disinfect lenses after wear. Contact lens-related MK involves the adherence of microorganisms to the contact lens. Therefore, this review discusses the information currently available regarding the disease pathophysiology, the common types of microorganisms causing MK, physical and organic mechanisms of adhesion, material properties which are involved in adhesion, and current antimicrobial strategies. This review also concludes that Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a model organism for the investigation of contact lens microbial adherence due to its prevalence in MK cases, its extremely robust adhesion, antimicrobial-resistant properties, and the severity of the disease it causes.

Combined Therapeutic Penetrating Keratoplasty and Pars Plana Vitrectomy for the Treatment of Infectious Keratitis Endophthalmitis: Mexican Endophthalmitis Study Group Protocol 4

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to assess the role of combined surgical treatment of therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty and pars plana vitrectomy in the anatomical and functional outcome of infectious keratitis endophthalmitis.

METHODS

This study reviewed the medical records of 4 participating centers in the United States and Mexico. This study included patients with a clinical diagnosis of infectious keratitis endophthalmitis who had been treated with an early therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty and pars plana vitrectomy as the main treatment for endophthalmitis. From each medical record, the study retrieved demographic data, relevant medical and drug history, baseline clinical manifestation of endophthalmitis, best-corrected visual acuity, and the need for enucleation/evisceration for the control of the infection or any other reason through the follow-up.

RESULTS

The study included 48 patients (50.15 ± 20.6 years). The mean follow-up time was 13 ± 0.5 months. The mean best-corrected visual acuity at baseline was 2.1 ± 0.25 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution. At month 12 was 2.09 ± 0.61 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution ( P = 0.9). The overall prevalence of enucleation/evisceration was 8.3% (95% confidence interval: 2.32%-19.98%). The prevalence of a vision of no-light perception was 20.8% (95% confidence interval: 2.32%-19.98%).

CONCLUSIONS

Combined surgery for severe cases of infectious keratitis endophthalmitis eradicates the infection in most cases, while significantly improving the overall outcomes.

Infectious keratitis caused by Klebsiella spp.: predisposing factors, presentation, and management

PURPOSE

To study predisposing factors, clinical presentation and management strategies for Klebsiella keratitis.

METHODS

A retrospective case review was performed on clinical records of culture-proven Klebsiella keratitis cases in a tertiary referral center over an 8-year period (from 2012 to 2020).

RESULTS

Thirty eight episodes of culture-proven Klebsiella keratitis were identified in 37 patients. The mean age of the patients was 62.9 years (range, 24-101). Multiple predisposing factors were identified in 33 eyes including history of previous keratoplasty (n = 11) history of ocular trauma (n = 7), preexisting ocular surface disease (n = 7) and diabetes (n = 6). Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) at presentation was light perception (LP) in 16 patients, hand motion (HM) in 12, counting fingers (CF) at 50 cm in 5, CF at 1 m in 1, CF at 2 m in 2. One patient had a CDVA of 3/10. On initial examination Hypopyon was detected in 21 eyes. Descemet's membrane folds were present in 1 eye. Corneal thinning was identified in 20 eyes and perforation occurred in 4 patients. Corneal ulcer progressed to endophthalmitis in one patient. Microbiologic sensitivity testing showed that 89.5% isolates were sensitive to amikacin (34/38),88.9%sensitive to ceftazidime (32/36),94.4% were sensitive to gentamicin (34/36),97.2% sensitive to ciprofloxacin (35/36), and 100% to levofloxacin (26/26).Ultimately, one or more surgical procedures was needed in 21 patients.

CONCLUSION

Previous keratoplasty, history of ocular trauma, ocular surface disease and systemic disease such as diabetes are major risk factors for Klebsiella keratitis. In most of the patients, surgical and tectonic procedures were necessary to control the infection.

Endophthalmitis Caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Clinical Characteristics, Outcomes, and Antibiotics Sensitivities

Purpose

The aim of this study is to report the clinical characteristics, visual outcomes, and antibiotic susceptibilities of patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa endophthalmitis.

Methods

The medical records of patients with culture-proven Pseudomonas aeruginosa endophthalmitis treated from June 2013 to December 2019 were reviewed.

Results

This study included 36 eyes of 36 patients. The clinical settings included ocular trauma (15/36), corneal ulcer (9/36), postoperative endophthalmitis (5/36), endogenous (3/36), and unknown (4/36). Sixteen patients underwent evisceration, 13 patients underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), 2 patients were treated with only intravitreal antibiotics, and 5 patients did not undergo surgery. Only one patient achieved a visual acuity of 20/400, and the others had all counting fingers or below. The cultured Pseudomonas aeruginosa was 100% sensitive to gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin and, approximately 95% sensitive to meropenem, imipenem, and aztreonam.

Conclusion

The visual outcomes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa endophthalmitis were very poor, and the evisceration rate remained high. Pseudomonas aeruginosa has good susceptibility to gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin.

Ten-Year Analysis of Pathogenic Factors and Etiological Characteristics of Endophthalmitis from a Tertiary Eye Center in North China

Purpose

To describe the etiology and spectrum of isolated pathogens in endophthalmitis over 10 years from an ophthalmic hospital in North China and report their antimicrobial susceptibilities.

Patients and Methods

The data covered the patients with endophthalmitis treated at Qingdao Eye Hospital from January 2011 to December 2020. Patients’ medical history, pathogenic factors, bacterial and fungal culture results of intraocular specimens, and in vitro drug sensitivity test results were assessed.

Results

A total of 524 cases were counted in this study. Exogenous endophthalmitis was the main component, accounting for 94.66%, of which 49.62% of eyes had a history of ophthalmic trauma, intraocular surgery in 26.72% and suppurative keratitis in 17.37%. By comparison, endogenous endophthalmitis was found in only 5.34% of eyes. Among the 292 strains of pathogenic organisms obtained by co-culture, gram-positive bacteria accounted for 64.04%, with Staphylococcus epidermidis as the predominant pathogen (29.45%). Gram-positive cocci were identified in 76.77% of eyes with traumatic endophthalmitis, while 53.70% of keratitis-associated endophthalmitis was caused by fungi. The high susceptibility of bacteria to vancomycin (77.78%~98.33%) supported its continued use as empirical treatment. Among the fluoroquinolones, gram-positive cocci showed a higher susceptibility to gatifloxacin (94.83%), while there was a significant decrease to levofloxacin (51.67%). Gram-negative bacteria were less sensitive to cephalosporins (45.95%~66.67%) than fluoroquinolones (68.42%~78.05%) and aminoglycosides (75.00%~78.05%). Fungal susceptibilities to voriconazole and amphotericin B were 90.16% and 70.31% respectively. More than half of the 11 antibiotics were observed to exhibit a trend of reduced susceptibility.

Conclusion

Ophthalmic trauma was the primary pathogenic factor of endophthalmitis. Gram-positive cocci were the most common pathogens of traumatic and postoperative endophthalmitis, while suppurative keratitis-associated endophthalmitis often resulted from fungal pathogens. Levofloxacin as the preferred antibiotic in the perioperative period and cephalosporin as the first-line drug for the treatment of empiric endophthalmitis need to be vigilant.

Polymicrobial Keratitis: Risk Factors, Clinical Characteristics, Bacterial Profile, and Antimicrobial Resistance

OBJECTIVE

To describe clinical characteristics, complications, and the most prevalent microorganisms causing polymicrobial keratitis and their antibiotic sensitivities.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study including a consecutive analysis of patient's records with a diagnosis of bacterial keratitis with a positive culture and antibiogram report were included. Patients were grouped into those having monomicrobial and polymicrobial infection. Features studied included demographic and clinical characteristics, risk factors, Gram stain, cultures, and antibiotic sensitivity.

RESULTS

We included 656 patients; in 31.5% more than one microorganism was found. Seven hundred and twenty-three gram-positive bacteria were isolated, and 336 (46.5%) had polymicrobial keratitis. One hundred sixty-one gram-negative bacteria were isolated, and 99 (61.5%) from polymicrobial keratitis. Fourteen (0.60%) patients presented ring infiltrate, and 10 (71.42%) of those patients had polymicrobial keratitis (X2 10.654, P=0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that patients with history of contact lens use (odds ratio [OR] of 1.78, P=0.042), coexistent autoimmune disease (OR 4.64, P=0.03), irregular edges of the infiltrate (OR 2.06, P=0.005), and ring infiltrate (OR 6.034, P=0.005) have a higher risk for developing polymicrobial infection. In the polymicrobial group, gram-positive and gram-negative organisms showed a high sensitivity to Netilmicin.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a high incidence of polymicrobial keratitis. Our results suggest that it should be suspected in patients with a history of contact lens use, coexistent autoimmune disease, infiltrates with indistinct edges, and ring infiltrates. Sensitivities to moxifloxacin are lower than those reported in previous studies, but sensitivity to Netilmicin is higher.

Proteus mirabilis Keratitis: Risk Factors, Clinical Features, Treatment Outcomes, and Microbiological Characteristics

PURPOSE

To characterize the risk factors, clinical presentations, management choices, and outcomes of Proteus mirabilis keratitis.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, 26 culture-proven cases of P. mirabilis infections were diagnosed and treated between 1998 and 2019 at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Medical records were available for 14 keratitis cases and were reviewed for demographic information, ocular risk factors, and treatment outcomes.

RESULTS

Sixteen eyes of 14 patients were included in the study. The average age was 47.8 ± 19.3 years, with a median follow-up time of 6 months. The most common ocular risk factors were poor ocular surface and contact lens use in 57.1% and 42.9% of cases, respectively. Eleven of the 14 patients (78.6%) had positive corneal cultures, and 13 of the 14 patients (92.9%) had positive conjunctiva or eyelid cultures. All isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin, and cefazolin. Surgical intervention was required in 4 patients (28.6%). Average LogMAR visual acuity was 1.3 ± 1.0 at presentation and 0.9 6 ± 1.0 at the most recent follow-up visit.

CONCLUSIONS

Proteus mirabilis is an uncommon cause of microbial keratitis. Patients with poor ocular surface and those who use contact lens are at increased risk for developing this cause of keratitis. Empiric treatment with fortified antibiotics or fluoroquinolones seemed to provide effective coverage for P. mirabilis.

Epidemiology of keratitis/scleritis-related endophthalmitis in a university hospital in Thailand

To demonstrate the demographics, associated factors, clinical presentations, microbiology, management, visual outcome and complications of keratitis/scleritis-related endophthalmitis (KSE). A retrospective chart of all endophthalmitis patients diagnosed between September 2001 and August 2011 was reviewed. Only endophthalmitis cases with previous corneal or scleral infection were included in the study. The patients were followed until losing vision or eyeball, becoming phthisis, or the end of 2018. Eighty-seven patients with KSE were identified, all unilateral. The mean age was 56.4 ± 21.4 years. There was a slight male predilection (55 patients, 63.2%). The mean follow-up time was 50 ± 149 weeks. The causative pathogens were identified in 35 patients (40.2%), with the highest frequency being bacteria. The most common bacterium was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 13), and the most common fungus was Aspergillus sp. (n = 5). Fifteen patients achieved (17.2%) final visual acuity (VA) of hand motion or better after treatment. Eyeball removal was performed in 61 (70.1%) patients. From multivariate analysis, the only prognostic factor for poor final VA (worse than hand motion, HM) was poor VA (worse than HM) at the initial visit (relative risk 1.97, 95% confidence interval 1.15–3.36, p = 0.013). KSE is uncommon but has a devastating outcome. We found that the patient’s initial VA was the only predictor for their final vision. P. aeruginosa was the most common identifiable organism in this study. However, several fungal infections were recognised. These findings should raise awareness for treatment of KSE in the tropics.

Medical History, Clinical Features, Treatment Outcome and Its Predictors Among Infectious Keratitis Patients in Jimma University Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia: Prospective Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Infectious keratitis is a major global cause of visual impairment and irreversible blindness among the corneal diseases. Its diagnosis and management remain getting challenge. The clinical and visual outcome remains poor in developing countries. The aim of this study was to determine treatment outcome and its predictors among patients with infectious keratitis.

METHODS

Prospective observational study was conducted among adult patients diagnosed with infectious keratitis at the Ophthalmology Department in Jimma University Medical Center from April 1 to September 30, 2019. The primary outcome indicator was response of the ulcer to empirical treatment. Ulcers that did not heal and required surgery had a poor outcome. Variables with a p-value of <0.25 were entered into a multivariate logistic regression model to determine the independent predictors of poor treatment outcome and variables with a p-value of <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The research involved 131 adult patients. Eighty-seven (66.4%) were males. The mean age was 39.38 (±18.9) years. Eighty-three (63.4%) patients had poor treatment outcome. Mean length of hospital stay was 17.38 (±12.563) days. Poor visual outcome was observed among 71 (54.2%) participants. Evisceration was done for seven (5.3%) patients. Independent predictors of poor treatment outcome include perforation at admission (AOR=6.1, 95%CI: 1.5-25.1), presence of comorbidity (AOR=7.7, 95%CI: 2.16-27.3), poor adherence (AOR=5.3, 95%CI: 1.8-25.9), traditional medicine use (AOR=6.7, 95%CI: 1.8-25.4), ulcer depth >1/3 (AOR=7.6, 95%CI: 2.48-48.23) and farm workers (AOR=3.59, 95%CI: 1.09-11.77). Major complications occurred after admissions were perforation (14.5%), followed by endophthalmitis (7.63%) and corneal opacity (6.87%).

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Our study found high poor treatment outcomes and high poor visual outcomes. Presence of comorbidity, perforation at admission, traditional medicine use, working on a farm, poor adherence, and ulcer depth were the predictors of poor treatment outcome. This high poor outcome requires a nationwide interventional study and urgent intervention that may reach rural communities.

Risk Factors for Post–Open-Globe Injury Endophthalmitis

Purpose:

The objective of our project is to use the National Inpatient Sample Database to identify risk factors for endophthalmitis in cases of open-globe injury (OGI).

Methods:

This is a cross-sectional observational study of 48 627 cases of OGI from the National Inpatient Sample Database. We performed regression analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics 23. Codes from the International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision were used to identify ocular findings and conditions. Variables with P values less than .05 on univariate analysis were included in the multivariable regression model; Bonferroni correction was applied to these results.

Results:

Of the 48 627 cases of OGI, 37 440 (77.0%) occurred in the adult group (21 years and older). Overall, 1018 (2.1%) cases developed posttraumatic endophthalmitis, with 74.5% cases in the adult group. Endophthalmitis developed in 293 (4.5%) eyes with an intraocular foreign body (IOFB). Results of binary logistic regression showed the clinical findings of traumatic cataracts, hypopyon, vitreous inflammation, corneal ulcers, or IOFBs were associated with an increased risk of developing endophthalmitis after OGI. Conversely, orbital fractures, rupture-type injuries, and intraocular tissue prolapse were associated with a decreased likelihood of being diagnosed with endophthalmitis.

Conclusions:

Endophthalmitis developed in 2.4% of pediatric OGIs and 2.0% of adult OGIs. Traumatic cataract, hypopyon, vitreous inflammation, corneal ulcer, keratitis, retinal detachment, IOFB, and diabetes increased the risk of post-open-globe endophthalmitis.

Quantitative Ocular Ultrasound Findings in Microbial Keratitis-Associated Endophthalmitis

PURPOSE

To assess how ocular ultrasound findings correlate with clinical parameters of patients with infectious keratitis and concern for endophthalmitis and to evaluate the usefulness of ultrasound in managing these patients.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

PARTICIPANTS

Seventy-three eyes of 73 patients with microbial keratitis who underwent ultrasound to evaluate for endophthalmitis were included.

METHODS

Ultrasound images were graded in a masked fashion independently by 2 retina specialists. The degree of vitreous opacities, defined as the largest area within the vitreous cavity occupied by opacities on any single image, were categorized as less than 10%, 10% to less than 50%, 50% to 90%, and more than 90%. The diagnosis of endophthalmitis was defined as severe intraocular inflammation that necessitated obtaining an intraocular culture sample and injection of intravitreal antimicrobials. The demographic and clinical characteristics of this patient cohort were compared.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Vitreous opacities measured quantitatively on ocular ultrasound.

RESULTS

The incidence of endophthalmitis in our patients with microbial keratitis who underwent ultrasound was 20.5%. Corneal and intraocular cultures showed positive results in 66.7% and 26.7% of endophthalmitis patients, respectively. A 4-fold increase in the likelihood of treatment for endophthalmitis was observed with increasing vitreous opacity severity (odds ratio, 3.97; confidence interval, 1.9-8.5; P < 0.0001). Endophthalmitis was associated with 50% or more vitreous opacities (P < 0.001), older age (P < 0.001), pseudophakia (P = 0.001), and hypopyon height (P < 0.001). Eye pain, eyelid edema, poor presenting visual acuity, larger corneal ulcer diameter, and causative organisms were not associated with endophthalmitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with more severe vitreous opacities on ultrasound were more likely to be treated for endophthalmitis. Patients with microbial keratitis, who were older and pseudophakic, were prone to have more severe vitreous opacities.

Ocular conditions and dry eye due to traditional and new forms of smoking: A review

Addiction to cigarette smoking has high prevalence rates recorded worldwide. Smoking has been linked to several life-threatening systemic conditions such as cancer, heart attack and stroke, in addition to a range of ocular pathologies. In recent years, electronic cigarettes (EC) have emerged as alternatives to smoking. ECs are nicotine delivery devices which produce an aerosol by heating, rather than combusting, a liquid which contains nicotine, flavours and preservatives. This review focuses on the association of traditional and new forms of smoking with dry eye disease, contact lens wear and four other common ocular diseases: cataract, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and Graves' ophthalmopathy. It is concluded that smoking and vaping appear as a risk factor for the aforementioned ocular conditions. An evidence-based, clear link between cigarette smoking, or EC vaping and ocular problems is yet to be discovered.

Nine-Year Analysis of Isolated Pathogens and Antibiotic Susceptibilities of Infectious Endophthalmitis from a Large Referral Eye Center in Southern China

Purpose

To analyze the pathogen spectrum of isolated pathogens and antibiotic susceptibility trends of infectious endophthalmitis over 9 years from a large referral eye center in southern China.

Methods

Data from all inpatients who were clinically diagnosed with infectious endophthalmitis and underwent microbiological evaluation at the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center from January 2010 to December 2018 were collected retrospectively and analyzed according to different clinical etiologies.

Results

A total of 816 cases were collected in the study. Open-globe injuries had caused 473 (57.97%) cases, 70 (8.58%) cases presented endophthalmitis after infectious keratitis, 156 (19.12%) cases were postoperative, and endogenous causes accounted for 117 (14.34%) cases. Among the 309 culture-positive cases, the predominant pathogen for both postoperative and posttraumatic endophthalmitis was gram-positive cocci (59.52% and 49.72%, respectively). Regarding keratitis-related endophthalmitis, the main pathogens were filamentous fungi (57.58%) and gram-negative bacilli (30.30%). The pathogens of endogenous endophthalmitis were almost evenly distributed among gram-positive cocci, gram-negative bacilli, and fungi. Eighty-five (10.42%) cases underwent evisceration/enucleation, including 42 cases secondary to keratitis-related endophthalmitis. The incidence of evisceration/enucleation was much higher in keratitis-related endophthalmitis than the total endophthalmitis population (χ² =123.61, P<0.001). Overall bacteria showed high susceptibility to fluoroquinolones (75.36–100.00%). Gram-positive cocci showed much higher sensitivity to cephalosporins compared to gram-negative bacilli (85.11–92.59% vs 25.42–35.72%). For the five first-line antibiotics analyzed for time trend of susceptibility, four exhibited a significant decrease of susceptibility from 2010–2014 to 2015–2018.

Conclusion

Between 2010 and 2018, posttraumatic endophthalmitis was the most common form of the treated endophthalmitis in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center. The causative pathogens varied according to different clinical settings. Even though the overall antibiotic susceptibilities were fairly high, we observed a substantial decrease of susceptibility for most first-line antibiotics.

Altered Regional Homogeneity in Patients With Corneal Ulcer: A Resting-State Functional MRI Study

Objective

To investigate the potential regional homogeneity (ReHo) brain activity changes in patients with corneal ulcer (CU) and their possible relationship with clinical symptoms.

Materials and Methods

Forty patients with CU (26 men and 14 women), and 40 healthy controls (HCs) (26 men and 14 women) closely matched in age, sex, and weight underwent resting-state functional MRI scans, respectively. The ReHo method was applied to evaluate synchronous neural activity changes. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to show high test-retest stability and high degree of sensitivity and specificity. We utilized the correlation analysis to calculate the relationship between the average ReHo signal values in different brain areas and the clinical symptoms in CU patients.

Results

Compared with the HCs, CU patients had significantly increased ReHo values in right cerebellum posterior lobe, left cerebellum posterior lobe, left inferior temporal gyrus, right lingual gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, left angular gyrus, left cingulate gyrus, right angular gyrus and bilateral superior frontal gyrus, and decreased ReHo values in right anterior cingulate and left precentral gyrus. ROC curve analysis of each brain regions showed the accuracy of AUC was perfect except the right cerebellum posterior lobe. Nevertheless, there was no clear evidence of prominent relevance between the average ReHo values in brain areas and the clinical symptoms.

Conclusion

Corneal ulcer caused dysfunctional adaption in different brain areas, which including relatively increased values and decreased values. This finding may help us take a further step in exploring the underlying pathologic mechanisms of CU.

Cervicofacial Infections Caused by Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is an opportunistic pathogen that causes a wide range of diseases. Dissemination of perioral infections is a common problem in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery. The aim of the study was to evaluate S. aureus carriage in the oral cavity and its dissemination to different cervicofacial regions. Clinical case 1 is a patient with a systemic history of type I diabetes which led to foot amputation one year previou sly, who presented alteration of ocular motility and the culture showed Grampositive cocci compatible with S. aureus. The patient was discharged after eight days of antibiotic therapy and drainage. Clinical case 2 was a young female without any comorbidities who had never been hospitalized before or even exposed to the hospital environment. The presence of lesions compatible with necrotizing fasciitis (NF) in the lower lip mucosal region, rapid evolution of the infection to deep planes, and evolution of the clinical picture alerted health-care providers to the need for prompt care. Clinical case 3 was an immunosuppressed patient with cellulitis which is a bacterial infection of the skin and soft tissues that occurs when the physical barrier of the skin and soft tissues, the immune system, and/or the circulatory system are affected. S. aureus is an opportunistic pathogen which causes a wide range of diseases. It inhabits the oral cavity, from where it can spread to distant cervicofacial regions. This is why it is important for health-care professionals to be aware of this niche in case of dissemination in order to provide prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment.