Vibrio vulnificus endophthalmitis occurring after ingestion of raw seafood

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.

A comprehensive review of Vibrio vulnificus: an important cause of severe sepsis and skin and soft-tissue infection

Vibrio vulnificus is a halophilic Gram-negative bacillus found worldwide in warm coastal waters. The pathogen has the ability to cause primary sepsis in certain high-risk populations, including patients with chronic liver disease, immunodeficiency, iron storage disorders, end-stage renal disease, and diabetes mellitus. Most reported cases of primary sepsis in the USA are associated with the ingestion of raw or undercooked oysters harvested from the Gulf Coast. The mortality rate for patients with severe sepsis is high, exceeding 50% in most reported series. Other clinical presentations include wound infection and gastroenteritis. Mild to moderate wound infection and gastroenteritis may occur in patients without obvious risk factors. Severe wound infection is often characterized by necrotizing skin and soft-tissue infection, including fasciitis and gangrene. V. vulnificus possesses several virulence factors, including the ability to evade destruction by stomach acid, capsular polysaccharide, lipopolysaccharide, cytotoxins, pili, and flagellum. The preferred antimicrobial therapy is doxycycline in combination with ceftazidime and surgery for necrotizing soft-tissue infection.

Endophthalmitis caused by Vibrio alginolyticus

Vibrio alginolyticus is a facultative anaerobic gram-negative bacillus found in normal marine flora. Ocular infections induced by V. alginolyticus are extremely rare. We report a case of endophthalmitis caused by V. alginolyticus to draw attention to V. alginolyticus infections following ocular injuries.