Endogenous endophthalmitis among patients with candidemia

Thirty-eight patients with fungemia were examined prospectively for development of endophthalmitis. Endophthalmitis was present in 10 of 27 (37%) patients with Candida albicans fungemia. Only one patients with nonalbicans fungemia developed endophthalmitis. Of the preselected factors studied, only hemodialysis and parenteral hyperalimentation correlated with an increased incidence of endophthalmitis. Antibody titers by latex agglutination were of little predictive value for endophthalmitis. Antigen titers by latex agglutination were performed in four cases with endophthalmitis. Antigenemia was demonstrated in three of the four patients, all of whom had negative antibody serologies. Although inconclusive, the preliminary data indicate the test may prove to be of clinical value. Periodic ophthalmoscopic examinations should be considered mandatory in the evaluation of patients with fungemia.