Kytococcus schroeteri Chronic Post-Operative Endophthalmitis After Cataract Surgery: The First Report of Ocular...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology

Background:

• Chronic post-operative endophthalmitis (CPOE) is a rare but serious complication following intraocular surgery.
• Kytococcus schroeteri is a gram-positive bacterium typically associated with hardware infections in immunocompetent individuals.

Observation:

• A 64-year-old male presented with recurrent intraocular inflammation for six years post-cataract surgery with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
• Initial treatments for presumed non-infectious panuveitis were unsuccessful, with multiple negative vitreous cultures.

Findings:

• A positive vitreous culture eventually identified Kytococcus schroeteri as the causative agent of CPOE.
• The patient was successfully treated with vitrectomy, IOL removal, and intravitreal vancomycin, although secondary glaucoma led to vision loss.

Implications:

• Kytococcus schroeteri represents a novel cause of CPOE, challenging the notion that only low-virulence organisms are responsible.
• Surgical removal of the infected IOL-capsule complex, similar to treating other Kytococcus-associated hardware infections, is crucial for cure.
• A high index of suspicion and appropriate culturing of ocular and capsular material are essential for diagnosing Kytococcus-associated CPOE.