PSEUDOMONAL CHOROIDAL ABSCESS AFTER ROUTINE PARS PLANA VITRECTOMY IN AN IMMUNOSUPPRESSED PATIENT

To describe an unusual case of pseudomonal choroidal abscess which developed after a routine pars plana vitrectomy in an immunosuppressed patient.

Case report. A 61-year-old woman with a history of rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis on abatacept underwent pars plana vitrectomy. A few days after the patient's operation, a partially serous choroidal detachment was identified. Her choroidal detachment increased in size despite prednisone therapy, and she was taken to the operating room for repeat vitrectomy and choroidal drainage. Intraoperatively, there was no significant intraocular inflammation, but purulent whitish material was expressed during external choroidal drainage which grew Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The patient was given intravenous antibiotics. Systemic infectious workup was negative for blood and urine cultures. The patient was transitioned to oral antibiotics, but had persistent eye pain after discharge and vision remained at count fingers. A computed tomography orbit scan with contrast showed persistent choroidal abscess, and intravitreal ceftazidime injections were administered. The patient's subjective pain resolved within several days of the first intravitreal injection; repeat ultrasound also showed interval resolution of the choroidal elevation. One year after the resolution of her choroidal abscess, her visual acuity was Snellen 20/250 in the affected eye.

Isolated choroidal bacterial abscess is a possible, but rare, complication of pars plana vitrectomy. Although visual prognosis is poor, especially for pseudomonal choroidal abscesses, aggressive treatment with timely choroidal drainage, systemic antibiotics, and intravitreal antibiotics may allow recovery of some ambulatory vision.