Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 5, 2025
Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Orbital Fractures
Published on: May 16, 2025
[Infection of the orbita due to Delftia acidovorans after a cat scratch]
Walter Johannes Smits1, Heinz-Hubert Feucht2, Frank Oellig3
1Praxis für Allgemeinmedizin, Hamminkeln.
History:
A 60 years old woman experienced a cat scratch 34 months ago on the left eyelid. Chronic, progredient skin lesions and headache developed. Treatments with cortisone, pimecrolimus, pregabalin and metamizole were not successful. After 24 months the patient complained of severe bulbus pain in the left eye, increased eye movement pain, and high photosensitivity. There were granulomatous papules in the area of the eye.
Findings And Diagnosis:
The interdisciplinary examination findings and clinical-chemical parameters were inconspicuous. A biopsy of the eyelid area revealed the detection of Delftia acidovorans by bacterial 16S-rRNA-PCR.
Therapy And Course:
Treatment with piperacillin/tazobactam 3 × 4.5 g/d IV for 10 days led to rapid clinical improvement, so that the patient could be discharged after 11 days. After additional 10 months, she had no relapse and was free of complaints.
Conclusions:
D. acidovorans has not yet appeared as a zoonotic pathogen but should be included in the case of injury by animals in the differential diagnostic considerations.
