Bilateral Endophthalmitis in a Postpartum Immunocompetent Patient

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Endogenous endophthalmitis is a rare but serious intraocular infection.
• Postpartum endophthalmitis, particularly bilateral and culture-negative, is exceptionally uncommon in immunocompetent individuals.

Observation:

• A 33-year-old immunocompetent woman presented with bilateral vision loss three weeks postpartum.
• Initial diagnostic workup, including vitreous humor cultures, was negative for infectious agents.
• The patient underwent bilateral pars plana vitrectomy with intravitreal antibiotic and antifungal administration.

Findings:

• Despite negative cultures, the clinical presentation suggested endogenous endophthalmitis.
• Post-surgical follow-up revealed residual fibrosis but excellent visual acuity (20/20) in both eyes.
• This case highlights a culture-negative bilateral endophthalmitis in a healthy postpartum patient.

Implications:

• Early surgical intervention (pars plana vitrectomy) is crucial for managing such cases.
• This case expands the understanding of atypical presentations of postpartum endophthalmitis.
• Further research may be needed to elucidate the specific causes of culture-negative endophthalmitis.