Ocular involvement in melioidosis: a 23-year retrospective review

Ocular involvement in melioidosis is rare and has devastating outcomes. Although there have been few reports on the condition, Khon Kaen, a city in northeast Thailand, has been called the "capital of melioidosis" due to the high prevalence of the condition in the region. We retrospectively reviewed all admitted cases of melioidosis with ocular involvement from the two largest hospitals in Khon Kaen. We reviewed cases from Srinagarind Hospital (a university hospital) of patients admitted between 1993 and 2016 and from Khon Kaen Hospital (a provincial hospital) of patients who presented from 2012 to 2016.

We identified 16 cases of ocular involvement. Eight of these cases were proven from positive culture, and the remaining eight were implied from high melioidosis titer. The prevalence was estimated as being from 0.49 to 1.02%. Most patients had underlying diseases (14, 88%), of which diabetes mellitus was the most prevalent (12, 75%). Nine cases (56%) were part of disseminated septicemia. Patients suffered from blindness in 11 (73%) of the 15 cases in which visual acuity was recorded. Orbital cellulitis was the most common manifestation (7, 44%) followed by endophthalmitis (4, 25%). Interestingly, all patients with necrotizing fasciitis (100%) developed septic shock as a consequence. In most of the cases, patients underwent surgery (13, 81%) including incision and drainage, debridement, and pars plana vitrectomy. Despite appropriate management, the visual outcomes were disappointing (9, 64%).

To summarize, ocular melioidosis is a highly destructive disease. Early detection and prompt surgical management may reduce morbidity and mortality from septic shock.