Endogenous endophthalmitis due to Escherichia coli: case report and review

Endophthalmitis: Changes in Presentation, Management and the Role of Early Vitrectomy

Endophthalmitis is a sight-threatening condition, and its timely and appropriate management is essential in preventing permanent vision loss. Recent changes in clinical practice in endophthalmitis and advances in modern vitreoretinal surgery may limit the applicability of established randomised clinical trial evidence to current management. This review discusses the epidemiology, pathophysiology, changing patient presentation, diagnosis and advances in the management of endophthalmitis, presenting the existing literature on this topic and results from Sydney Eye Hospital.

Bilateral endogenous endophthalmitis complicated by scleral perforation: an unusual presentation

Endogenous endophthalmitis complicated by necrotising scleritis has rarely been reported in the literature. We, hereby, report a case of bilateral scleral perforation with endogenous endophthalmitis in an 87-year-old female patient with diabetes who presented as bilateral orbital cellulitis. Systemic workup ruled out autoimmune aetiology. The culture and sensitivity of exudates exuding from the scleral perforation showed Escherichia coli The Patient was managed conservatively with parenteral and topical antibiotics along with steroid, but the vision could not be salvaged. The report emphasizes on atypical presentation of endogenous endophthalmitis. In old and immunosuppressed individuals presenting with a clinical picture of bilateral orbital cellulitis with profound vision loss, endogenous endophthalmitis should be ruled out.

Microbes of the human eye: Microbiome, antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation

BACKGROUND

The review focuses on the bacteria associated with the human eye using the dual approach of detecting cultivable bacteria and the total microbiome using next generation sequencing. The purpose of this review was to highlight the connection between antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation in ocular bacteria.

METHODS

Pubmed was used as the source to catalogue culturable bacteria and ocular microbiomes associated with the normal eyes and those with ocular diseases, to ascertain the emergence of anti-microbial resistance with special reference to biofilm formation.

RESULTS

This review highlights the genetic strategies used by microorganisms to evade the lethal effects of anti-microbial agents by tracing the connections between candidate genes and biofilm formation.

CONCLUSION

The eye has its own microbiome which needs to be extensively studied under different physiological conditions; data on eye microbiomes of people from different ethnicities, geographical regions etc. are also needed to understand how these microbiomes affect ocular health.

Clinical Features of Endogenous Endophthalmitis Secondary to Minimally Invasive Upper Urinary Tract Calculus Removal

PURPOSE

To evaluate endogenous endophthalmitis clinical features following minimally invasive removal of upper urinary tract calculi.

METHODS

Medical records of twelve patients (17 eyes) with endogenous endophthalmitis secondary to minimally invasive upper urinary tract calculus removal were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Diabetes mellitus was found in 7 patients (58%). 10 patients (83%) suffered from fever. The stone extraction and ocular symptom onset interval ranged from 2 to 22 days. All eyes presented as vitritis and fluffy yellow-white retinal exudates. Hypopyon was only found in 3 eyes (18%). 5 patients (42%) were misdiagnosed as uveitis which led to mismanagement. Ocular fluids were culture positive for only C. albicans in 12 eyes (71%). 10 of 12 eyes (83%) with silicon oil tamponade obtained a final BCVA≥0.05.

CONCLUSIONS

C. albicans was the most common endogenous endophthalmitis pathogen after urinary calculus removal by minimally invasive surgery. Pars plana vitrectomy with silicon oil tamponade may be helpful to achieve a favorable visual outcome. Routine ophthalmologic evaluation by the uveitis or vitreoretinal specialist may be necessary within 2 weeks after the urological procedures.

Recent Updates on Treatment of Ocular Microbial Infections by Stem Cell Therapy: A Review

Ocular microbial infection has emerged as a major public health crisis during the past two decades. A variety of causative agents can cause ocular microbial infections; which are characterized by persistent and destructive inflammation of the ocular tissue; progressive visual disturbance; and may result in loss of visual function in patients if early and effective treatments are not received. The conventional therapeutic approaches to treat vision impairment and blindness resulting from microbial infections involve antimicrobial therapy to eliminate the offending pathogens or in severe cases; by surgical methods and retinal prosthesis replacing of the infected area. In cases where there is concurrent inflammation, once infection is controlled, anti-inflammatory agents are indicated to reduce ocular damage from inflammation which ensues. Despite advances in medical research; progress in the control of ocular microbial infections remains slow. The varying level of ocular tissue recovery in individuals and the incomplete visual functional restoration indicate the chief limitations of current strategies. The development of a more extensive therapy is needed to help in healing to regain vision in patients. Stem cells are multipotent stromal cells that can give rise to a vast variety of cell types following proper differentiation protocol. Stem cell therapy shows promise in reducing inflammation and repairing tissue damage on the eye caused by microbial infections by its ability to modulate immune response and promote tissue regeneration. This article reviews a selected list of common infectious agents affecting the eye; which include fungi; viruses; parasites and bacteria with the aim of discussing the current antimicrobial treatments and the associated therapeutic challenges. We also provide recent updates of the advances in stem cells studies on sepsis therapy as a suggestion of optimum treatment regime for ocular microbial infections.

Two cases of differentiation syndrome with ocular manifestations in patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia treated with all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide

Purpose

To describe two cases of differentiation syndrome presenting with ocular manifestations including bilateral chorioretinopathy in patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia treated with all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide differentiation therapy.

Observations

This observational case series identifies two patients at a single tertiary institution diagnosed with differentiation syndrome with associated ophthalmic involvement. Both patients reported bilateral reduction in visual acuity at days fourteen and ten respectively following initiation of differentiation therapy in addition to developing other systemic manifestations of differentiation syndrome. Both patients received the same chemotherapeutic regimen including both all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide as well as ten days of routine differentiation syndrome prophylaxis with oral prednisolone. Case 1 presented with bilateral pale yellow sub-retinal lesions concentrated at the posterior poles with ocular coherence tomography (OCT) evidence of bilateral multifocal areas of focal RPE elevation and adhesion to the thickened outer retina with interspersed sub-retinal fluid. Fluorescein angiography revealed areas of early hyperflouresence corresponding to the yellow chorioretinal lesions with late diffuse leakage of fluid into the subretinal space. Case 2 presented with a similar characteristic retinal findings on fundoscopy and optical coherence tomography. Both patients experienced rapid improvement in the visual symptoms and marked resolution of the sub-retinal fluid within seven to fourteen days of onset with excellent long-term visual outcome. Both patients achieved molecular remission after induction and received standard consolidation and maintenance therapy without visual disturbance.

Conclusion and importance

Ocular manifestations of differentiation syndrome have been only recently recognised. We present a case series of two patients with differentiation syndrome with ocular involvement. Common to both presentations was the presence of bilateral reduction in visual acuity with multifocal serous retinal detachment secondary to chorioretinopathy. The visual outcome from both presentations was excellent with rapid normalisation of visual acuity and resolution of the sub-retinal fluid with only the first case having their differentiation therapy temporarily withheld during the acute phase of illness.

CHORIORETINAL BIOPSY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF ENDOGENOUS ENDOPHTHALMITIS DUE TO ESCHERICHIA COLI

PURPOSE

To describe the novel use of a chorioretinal biopsy technique to confirm the microbiological diagnosis of endogenous Escherichia coli (E. coli) endophthalmitis, when other investigations have been proven nondiagnostic.

METHODS

Case report of an 82-year-old white man with endogenous endophthalmitis without a clearly identifiable source of infection.

RESULTS

After systemic cultures and multiple aqueous and vitreous samples were unable to identify a causative organism, chorioretinal biopsy of a subretinal abscess was used to confirm the microbiological diagnosis. This ensured appropriate ophthalmic and systemic treatment of infection.

CONCLUSION

Endogenous E. coli endophthalmitis is a rare and aggressive condition usually seen in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes with concurrent urinary tract infection. This case demonstrates chorioretinal biopsy to be a viable and effective method of establishing a firm microbiological diagnosis in cases of culture-negative endophthalmitis.

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment after a lower extremity dog bite: a case report

Introduction

The occurrence of endogenous endophthalmitis is well known in the settings of bacteremia or candidemia, although its association with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment remains unclear.

Case presentation

We present a case of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in a 39 year old man who presented with acute vision loss six weeks after a lower extremity dog bite. Further workup revealed oxacillin resistant staphylococcus aureus bacteremia with multiple septic emboli to various organs including bilateral loculated pleural effusion, left renal abscess, left obturator abscess, and right eye endogenous endophthalmitis.

Conclusion

Our case illustrates an interesting presentation of oxacillin resistant staphylococcus aureus bacteremia after a dog bite, where endogenous endophthalmitis and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment were part of the manifestations. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial to preserve the visual acuity.

Endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis: a 17-year prospective series and review of 267 reported cases

Endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis is a rare but serious condition that occurs when bacteria cross the blood-ocular barrier and multiply within the eye. We provide an overview of endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis by reviewing 267 reported cases and integrating this with our experience of an additional 19 cases. The majority of patients with endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis are initially misdiagnosed and many have an underlying disease known to predispose to infection. This condition is often previously undiagnosed. Blood cultures are the most frequent means of establishing the diagnosis. The most common Gram positive organisms are Staphylococcus aureus, group B streptococci, Streptococcus pneumoniae,and Listeria monocytogenes. The most common Gram negative organisms are Klebsiella spp., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Neisseria meningitidis. Gram negative organisms are responsible for the majority of cases reported from East Asian hospitals, but Gram positive organisms are more common in North America and Europe. The visual outcome is poor with most cases leading to blindness in the affected eye. Many patients have extraocular foci of infection, with an associated mortality rate of 5%. The outcome of endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis has not improved in 55 years and clinicians need to have a high level of awareness of this commonly misdiagnosed condition.

Bacterial endophthalmitis: epidemiology, therapeutics, and bacterium-host interactions

Endophthalmitis is a severe inflammation of the interior of the eye caused by the introduction of contaminating microorganisms following trauma, surgery, or hematogenous spread from a distant infection site. Despite appropriate therapeutic intervention, bacterial endophthalmitis frequently results in visual loss, if not loss of the eye itself. Although the pathogenicity of bacterial endophthalmitis has historically been linked with toxin production during infection, a paucity of information exists as to the exact mechanisms of retinal toxicity and the triggers for induction of the intraocular immune response. Recently, research has begun to examine the bacterial and host molecular and cellular events that contribute to ocular damage during endophthalmitis. This review focuses on the causative agents and therapeutic challenges of bacterial endophthalmitis and provides current data from the analysis of the role of bacterial virulence factors and host inflammatory interactions in the pathogenesis of eye infections. Based on these and related studies, a hypothetical model for the molecular pathogenesis of bacterial endophthalmitis is proposed. Identifying and understanding the basic mechanisms of these bacterium-host interactions will provide the foundation for which novel, information-based therapeutic agents are developed in order to prevent vision loss during endophthalmitis.

Endogenous endophthalmitis

Endogenous endophthalmitis still presents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge even with improvements in therapeutic modalities. The main prognostic factor is the virulence of the causative organism: once the organism enters the eye, it rapidly destroys ocular tissues. With the increasing ability to prolong the life of very ill patients, incidence of endogenous endophthalmitis is expected to increase. Ophthalmologists must be ever more vigilant, because prompt treatment offers the best chance of saving the eye.