Pseudomonas pseudomallei in an anopthalmic orbit

A 21-year old man sustained multiple facial fractures and skin lacerations during an automobile accident, with resultant necrosis of the left upper eyelid and exposure of the cornea. Bacterial and secondary fungal corneal ulceration and perforation occurred, leading to enucleation. Cultures from the noninfected anophthalmic orbit approximately eight weeks after enucleation yielded Pseudomonas pseudomallei. This is the second isolate of this domallei. This is the second isolate of this organism in the United States and the first apparent association with the ocular adnexa.