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Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans endophthalmitis with subacute endocarditis
Annals of Ophthalmology
|January 1, 1984
Summary
Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans can cause endocarditis and endophthalmitis. Prompt treatment with antibiotics led to vision recovery, highlighting the need to consider this bacteria in endophthalmitis diagnoses.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
Background:
- Endocarditis, an infection of the heart lining, can lead to systemic complications.
- Endogenous endophthalmitis, an intraocular infection, presents a diagnostic challenge.
- Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is a bacterium rarely associated with endocarditis and ocular infections.
Observation:
- A patient presented with unilateral endophthalmitis secondary to Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans endocarditis.
- The ocular infection exhibited a localized pattern and slow progression.
- Experimental endophthalmitis in rabbits showed minimal pathogenicity of the organism.
Findings:
- Systemic, subconjunctival, and topical antibiotic therapy (gentamicin sulfate and ampicillin sodium) resulted in complete visual acuity recovery (20/20).
- A residual chorioretinal scar was noted in the nasal periphery post-treatment.
- The rabbit model confirmed the low virulence of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans within the ocular environment.
Implications:
- Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans should be considered in the differential diagnosis of endogenous endophthalmitis, particularly in patients with endocarditis or septicemia.
- Early and aggressive antibiotic treatment is crucial for managing endophthalmitis and preserving vision.
- This case expands the spectrum of clinical manifestations associated with Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans infections.