Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 17, 2025

Intravitreal Injection and Quantitation of Infection Parameters in a Mouse Model of Bacterial Endophthalmitis
07:24

Intravitreal Injection and Quantitation of Infection Parameters in a Mouse Model of Bacterial Endophthalmitis

Published on: February 6, 2021

11.7K

Case Report: Poor Outcome Despite Aggressive Management in Pythium insidiosum Endophthalmitis

David Aggarwal1, Sanchita Mitra2, Paavan Kalra3

  • 1Anant Bajaj Retina Institute, L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), Hyderabad, India.

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
|December 12, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Pythium insidiosum, an oomycete causing severe eye infections, was isolated from the vitreous cavity in an endophthalmitis case. Despite prompt treatment and surgery, the infection led to poor visual outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Pythium insidiosum is an oomycete mimicking fungal infections, causing keratitis and other ocular diseases.
  • Clinical and morphological resemblance to fungi complicates diagnosis, requiring expert microbiologists for differentiation.
  • It exhibits poor response to standard antifungal therapies, posing a therapeutic challenge.

Observation:

  • This case details the primary isolation of Pythium insidiosum from the vitreous cavity in a patient with endophthalmitis.
  • The infection rapidly progressed, affecting all ocular tissues.
  • Despite aggressive management, the visual outcome was poor.

Findings:

  • Pythium insidiosum can cause severe endophthalmitis with rapid progression.
  • Early and comprehensive surgical intervention (retinal and corneal) combined with anti-Pythium therapy did not prevent poor visual outcomes.
  • The organism's vitreous isolation highlights its potential to invade deeper ocular structures.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the diagnostic challenges posed by Pythium insidiosum in ophthalmology.
  • It emphasizes the need for heightened awareness and specific diagnostic approaches for Pythium infections.
  • The poor visual prognosis despite timely intervention suggests limitations in current treatment strategies for severe Pythium endophthalmitis.

More Related Videos

Iris Fixation via External Pentagram Suturing05:22

Iris Fixation via External Pentagram Suturing

Published on: May 5, 2022

1.4K
A Metadata Extraction Approach for Clinical Case Reports to Enable Advanced Understanding of Biomedical Concepts07:50

A Metadata Extraction Approach for Clinical Case Reports to Enable Advanced Understanding of Biomedical Concepts

Published on: September 20, 2018

16.0K

Related Concept Videos

Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management01:28

Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management

Introduction:For diagnosing acute pyelonephritis, a comprehensive patient history is collected to identify symptoms such as dysuria, frequent or urgent urination, flank pain, or costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness that may suggest a kidney infection.Physical ExaminationDuring the physical examination, CVA tenderness is assessed. This involves gentle percussion over the costovertebral angle, where tenderness often indicates a kidney infection.Diagnostic TestsUrinalysis: Used to identify white...
29
Glaucoma: Overview01:25

Glaucoma: Overview

Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that damages the retina and optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness if left untreated. The human eye has various components, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and optic nerve. Aqueous humor is secreted by the epithelium of the ciliary body in the posterior chamber and flows through the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm, maintaining normal intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork and the canal...
679
Endocarditis III: Medical Management01:18

Endocarditis III: Medical Management

Infective endocarditis management involves a multifaceted approach encompassing infection prevention, lifestyle modifications, pharmacological therapy, and surgical management.Infection Prevention:Hand Hygiene: Thorough handwashing is crucial to prevent the spread of infection. Hand hygiene should be performed regularly, especially before and after using the restroom.Oral Hygiene: Good oral hygiene is essential. It includes brushing teeth immediately after waking up and before bed, flossing...
11
Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment01:28

Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment

Angle-closure glaucoma, or closed-angle glaucoma, is an eye condition where the iris bulges out and blocks the iridocorneal angle, resulting in a buildup of aqueous humor and increased intraocular pressure. Immediate medical attention is necessary due to the sudden onset of symptoms. The treatment for angle-closure glaucoma includes short-term and long-term approaches. Short-term treatment involves using eye drops like pilocarpine to lower intraocular pressure by increasing aqueous humor...
613
Acute Pancreatitis II: Clinical Manifestations and Management01:30

Acute Pancreatitis II: Clinical Manifestations and Management

Acute pancreatitis presents a complex medical emergency characterized by rapid onset inflammation of the pancreas, demanding timely diagnosis and management to prevent complications. The condition primarily manifests through severe upper abdominal pain that often radiates to the back. This pain intensifies following the consumption of fatty foods. Accompanying symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal distention, fever, dyspnea, cyanosis, and jaundice can vary in intensity but significantly...
166
Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment01:27

Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment

In open-angle glaucoma, the iridocorneal angle remains open, but the trabecular meshwork becomes stiff, slowing down the outflow of aqueous humor. This causes a buildup of aqueous humor in the anterior chamber, leading to a sudden increase in intraocular pressure. The treatment for open-angle glaucoma focuses on reducing the elevated intraocular pressure by either decreasing the secretion of aqueous humor or increasing its outflow.
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...
520