Abiotrophia species as a cause of endophthalmitis following cataract extraction

Abstract

Microorganisms of the genus Abiotrophia, members of the oral flora, are known as important causes of bacterial endocarditis. In this study, we report two individual cases of acute vitreous infection caused by Abiotrophia adiacens and Abiotrophia defectiva approximately a week after cataract extraction. Abiotrophia isolates were recovered by cultivation of vitreous humor on chocolate agar and identified via conventional and API 20 Strep identification systems. An 83-year-old male patient (A) and an 80-year-old female patient (B) demonstrated almost identical symptoms of infectious endophthalmitis manifested as hypopyon and opaque media. The vision of both patients was reduced to detection of hand motion in the left and the right eyes, respectively. An emergency pars plana core vitrectomy was performed, and intraocular antibiotics were administered to each patient, who presented 8 months apart in two different institutions. Patients A and B were treated with an intravitreal injection of vancomycin-amikacin and vancomycin- ceftazidime, respectively, which resulted in complete recovery.