Exogenous Neisseria meningitidis Endophthalmitis

• Published in: American journal of ophthalmology 1997-01, Vol.123 (1), p.135-136
• Main Authors: Saperstein, David A., Bennett, Michael D., Steinberg, James P., Reddy, Venkat M., Aaberg, Thomas M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Cataract Extraction; Endophthalmitis - microbiology; Filtering Surgery - adverse effects; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Meningococcal Infections - drug therapy; Meningococcal Infections - etiology; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the eye and orbit
• ISSN: 0002-9394; 1879-1891
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9394(14)71010-4

To report a case of Neisseria meningitidis endophthalmitis in association with a leaking filtering bleb and to consider antibiotic prophylaxis of those people with whom the patient had contact. We treated an 81-year-old man who had a chronic, leaking filtering bleb and who developed exogenous N meningitidis endophthalmitis. N meningitidis endophthalmitis was controlled with antibiotic therapy. Antibiotic prophylaxis for those with whom the patient had contact was not recommended. In this case, the N meningitidis strain was not considered invasive because the bacteria apparently entered the eye through a leaky filtering bleb and not through the bloodstream. Recovery of noninvasive N meningitidis does not require prophylaxis for patient contacts. In cases of endogenous or idiopathic N meningitidis endophthalmitis, antibiotic prophylaxis of close patient contacts may be warranted.