Bilateral endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis: a report of four cases

PURPOSE: To present and discuss four cases of bilateral endogenous endophthalmitis.

METHODS: An observational study of four patients aged 55-80 years, seen within a 2-year period. All had diagnostic and therapeutic vitrectomy. The antibiotic therapy was guided by analyses of cultures of blood and vitreous.

RESULTS: Blood cultures demonstrated Streptococcus pneumoniae in two patients and Staphylococcus aureus and Morganella morganii, each in one patient. The findings corresponded with culture findings from vitreous material in two patients. The primary foci for the metastatic spread of infection were endocarditis, discitis and a subdural abscess of the lumbar spine, urinary tract infection, and infection of a recent hip alloplasty, respectively, in the four patients. Five eyes became blind, whereas three eyes recovered to visual acuity of 0.25-0.67.

CONCLUSIONS: Endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis usually leads to total loss of vision. The disease is acute and the time span for intervention limited. We believe that an active therapeutic approach including intravitreal antibiotics and vitreoretinal surgery saved three eyes from blindness.