Endophthalmitis associated with intravenous drug abuse

Endophthalmitis is an inflammation of the interior of the eye. We describe an IV drug abuser with endophthalmitis who initially was diagnosed as having an acute conjunctivitis. During the next 12 hours fulminant endophthalmitis developed. The patient failed to respond to treatment, and on the second hospital day underwent subtotal exenteration of the right orbit. The only organism obtained from numerous cultures was Staphylococcus epidermidis. We suspect the causative organism was not isolated.