Endogenous endophthalmitis following streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis

Abstract

A 67-year-old man was transported to our hospital and diagnosed with pneumococcal meningitis. We immediately administered ceftriaxone and vancomycin according to the guidelines, but did not administer dexamethasone to him because he had been previously administered antibiotics. His left eye became complicated by endogenous endophthalmitis on the next day, which resulted in blindness, although his meningitis rapidly ameliorated. In comparison to other patients who have been reported to recover from complications with endophthalmitis after the combination therapy of antibiotics, corticosteroids and vitreous surgery, we consider that this patient’s poor visual outcome may have been caused by severe inflammation or the breakdown of the blood ocular barrier due to the action of S. pneumoniae. Corticosteroids may be able to successfully treat such inflammation or disruption of the blood ocular barrier.