A Very Unusual Burn Complication: Bilateral Endogenous Bacterial Endophthalmitis

The authors report the rare, but potentially blinding, complication of bilateral endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis observed in a 35-year-old man during his admission to a regional burns center following a burn injury from an electronic cigarette device. This complication has been reported only twice in burn patients following extensive and life-threatening burn injuries. This patient underwent surgical debridement and split-thickness skin grafting of non-major burns as per standard of practice. In the postoperative period, the patient developed bilateral eye pain, redness, and photophobia, and was subsequently diagnosed with bilateral endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis secondary to a Staphylococcus aureus infection of the burn wound. After ophthalmology input and treatment with systemic and intravitreal antibiotics, he made a full recovery from both his burns and endophthalmitis.

This report describes a rare, sight-threatening complication that arose from an infected burn wound in an otherwise healthy patient. It highlights the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment to preserve vision and the need for burn surgeons to have a high level of awareness of this entity, even in the context of minor burns.