Irido-lenticular abscess as the initial sign of Candida albicans endogenous endophthalmitis

The Role of Vitrectomy in the Management of Fungal Endophthalmitis

Fungal endophthalmitis is an important cause of vision loss worldwide with a large body of literature describing the treatment of the disease. The evidence supporting the use of pars plana vitrectomy in the management of fungal endophthalmitis is largely comprised of case reports and case series and demonstrates the important role of vitrectomy surgery. Vitrectomy can improve the likelihood of establishing the diagnosis, enhance the treatment of infection by removing fungal elements in the vitreous, aid in the removal of other inoculated intraocular structures, and is an important tool in the management of vision-threatening post-infectious sequelae like retinal detachment and epiretinal membrane.

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.

Nosocomial keratitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: case report and preventative measures

A 47-year-old African-American woman was admitted to the intensive care unit of our community hospital for respiratory failure secondary to severe decompensated heart failure, requiring intubation. In the ensuing days, she developed a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection of the cornea, despite no growth of MRSA in multiple blood, sputum, and urine cultures. This unexpected corneal infection complicated her hospital stay, and increased morbidity and disease-related cost. Risk factors, warning signs, and preventative measures for MRSA keratitis secondary to lagophthalmos (inability to completely close one's eyelids) are outlined in this case report. Implementing simple precautions such as taping eyelids shut or using artificial lubrication may reduce patient morbidity and disease-related costs. These recommendations are directed to non-ophthalmic clinicians who provide care to patients in settings where MRSA colonization is widespread.

Prevalence and factors predictive of intraocular fungal infection in patients with fungemia at an academic urban tertiary care center

Objective

To report the prevalence and to identify factors predictive of intraocular infection in patients with fungemia receiving prophylactic antifungal therapy.

Methods

A retrospective review of patients who received prophylactic antifungal therapy and a dilated fundus examination at an academic urban tertiary care center from 2000 to 2007. Basic demographic information, fungal species grown, antifungal agent(s) used, number of positive blood culture specimens, visual acuity, visual symptoms, and known risks of disseminated candidiasis were noted. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors significantly associated with intraocular fungal infection.

Results

A total of 132 patients with positive fungemia culture were requested to have ophthalmology consults. The prevalence of ocular infection was 6.9% (N=9). All nine patients were infected with Candida species. Undergoing gastrointestinal (GI) surgery within the prior 6 months was significantly related to developing intraocular infection, with an odds ratio of 18.5 (95% confidence interval, 15.1–24.3; P=0.002). Having ≥3 positive fungal blood cultures was also a significant risk factor, with an odds ratio of 2.6 (95% confidence interval, 1.8–3.7; P=0.03). Among 40 patients having GI surgery, eight (20.0%) had intraocular fungal disease, compared with one of 92 patients (1.1%) not having GI surgery. Among 125 patients with a negative baseline examination result, two of 32 patients (6.3%), who had recent GI surgery, subsequently developed fungal ocular disease, compared with 0 of 93 patients (0%), who did not have recent GI surgery.

Conclusion

Recent GI surgery and higher numbers of positive fungal blood culture specimens may be predictive of candida ocular infections. Normal baseline fundoscopy examination results in patients with such risks may require repeat evaluations to detect delayed manifestations.