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Postoperative endophthalmitis caused by Sphingomonas paucimobilis

Wendy E Adams1, Maged Habib, Andrew Berrington

  • 1Ophthalmology Department, Sunderland Eye Infirmary, Sunderland, United Kingdom. wendy_stoer@yahoo.com

Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
|July 22, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Sphingomonas paucimobilis caused recurrent endophthalmitis post-phacoemulsification. Complete resolution required vitrectomy, highlighting this organism

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Endophthalmitis is a severe intraocular infection often following ocular surgery.
  • Phacoemulsification is a common cataract surgery technique.

Observation:

  • A 73-year-old woman developed recurrent acute endophthalmitis after phacoemulsification.
  • The causative organism, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, was identified.
  • The infection was resistant to initial medical management.

Findings:

  • Sphingomonas paucimobilis, previously undescribed in endophthalmitis cases, caused the infection.
  • Complete resolution of endophthalmitis was achieved only after vitrectomy.
  • A potential interaction between Sphingomonas paucimobilis and a co-infective organism was observed, possibly explaining the unusual clinical course.

Implications:

  • This case expands the spectrum of pathogens causing post-operative endophthalmitis.
  • Vitrectomy may be crucial for managing severe or recurrent cases caused by resistant organisms.
  • Further research is needed to understand the pathogenicity and treatment of Sphingomonas paucimobilis endophthalmitis.

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