Bilateral Endogenous Bacterial Endophthalmitis with Asynchrony for 14 Months due to Klebsiella pneumoniae: A Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to describe a very rare case of endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae in both eyes with a difference in the onset of symptoms of 14 months in an immunocompetent patient. Case Presentation: A 66-year-old immunocompetent man presented with asynchronous bilateral endogenous endophthalmitis produced by the K. pneumoniae bacterium at the starting point of a liver abscess after cholecystectomy surgery, causing endophthalmitis 1 year and 2 months apart between an eye and another. The first was diffuse anteroposterior endophthalmitis in the left eye that ended in visual loss and phthisis bulbi due to delayed initial diagnosis and established treatment, and the second was focal endophthalmitis in the right eye that preserved the organ and resulted in a vision of 20/20 due to early suspected diagnosis and rapid instituted treatment. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first published case of a long asynchronous bilateral endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis caused by K. pneumoniae with a prolonged difference of 14 months in the onset of symptoms between one eye and another. This case is a vision-threatening ophthalmologic emergency that can be associated with life-threatening systemic morbidities. The early diagnosis of infection represents a challenge for clinicians, ophthalmologists, and microbiologists.

Keywords

• endogenous endophthalmitis
• bilateral asynchrony
• klebsiella
• liver abscess
• case report