Endogenous endophthalmitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a preterm infant: A case report

Abstract

Endophthalmitis is an infection of the vitreous or aqueous humor of the eye. Although it rarely occurs in the neonatal period it has been previously diagnosed in preterm infants. Endogenous endophthalmitis is when eye infection is secondary to septicemia and represent 20% of the cases of endophthalmitis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is responsible for more than 75% of invasive neonatal eye infections. The course of pseudomonal endophthalmitis is typically fulminant, developing over hours even in early diagnosis. For survivors, the usual result is blindness of the affected eye. We report the case of a preterm infant who developed septicemia and was later diagnosed as having a pseudomonas endophthalmitis. © 2009 Figueiredo et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.