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Updated: Mar 26, 2026

Intravitreal Injection and Quantitation of Infection Parameters in a Mouse Model of Bacterial Endophthalmitis
Published on: February 6, 2021
CHORIORETINAL BIOPSY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF ENDOGENOUS ENDOPHTHALMITIS DUE TO ESCHERICHIA COLI
Nicholas M Cheng1, Aman Chandra, Edward Roufail
1*Vitreoretinal Unit, The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Victoria, Australia; and †Department of Anatomical Pathology, St Vincent's Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
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.

