Group B streptococcal metastatic endophthalmitis in an elderly man without predisposing illness

Our patient, an 83-year-old man, suddenly experienced acute lumbago and was prescribed bed rest. Later, pneumonia was diagnosed, even though he had no predisposing illness, and endophthalmitis developed in both eyes. Cultures of anterior chamber and vitreous specimens were positive for group B streptococcus. Treatment with systemic antibiotics, to which this bacteria is sensitive, was begun and his condition gradually improved. Nevertheless, the patient became blind in his right eye and the eye was enucleated. Histopathologic examination showed metastatic endophthalmitis with retinal detachment. Multiple microabscesses were found in the thickened choroid. We speculated that organisms disseminating from the microabscesses had caused the metastatic endophthalmitis.