Endogenous Ocular Nocardiosis—An Interventional Case Report With a Review of the Literature

• Published in: Survey of ophthalmology 2011-09, Vol.56 (5), p.383-415
• Main Authors: Eschle-Meniconi, Margherita E., MD, Guex-Crosier, Yan, MD, Wolfensberger, Thomas J., MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abscess - diagnosis; Abscess - drug therapy; Abscess - microbiology; Aged; amikacin; Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; chorioretinal exudates; chorioretinitis; endogenous ocular Nocardia infection; endophthalmitis; Eye Infections, Bacterial - diagnosis; Eye Infections, Bacterial - drug therapy; Eye Infections, Bacterial - microbiology; Fatal Outcome; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; hypopyon; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Miscellaneous; Nocardia; Nocardia - isolation & purification; Nocardia Infections - diagnosis; Nocardia Infections - drug therapy; Nocardia Infections - microbiology; nocardiosis; Ophthalmology; resistance; Retinal Diseases - diagnosis; Retinal Diseases - drug therapy; Retinal Diseases - microbiology; Retinopathies; subretinal abscess; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination - therapeutic use; trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole; Uvea diseases; uveitis
• ISSN: 0039-6257; 1879-3304
• DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2011.03.003

Abstract We present an illustrative case of endogenous ocular Nocardia (EON) infection in a man with Hodgkin disease treated by chemotherapy who underwent aggressive vitreoretinal surgery for diagnosis and treatment of a subretinal abscess. Visual acuity recovered from hand movements to 20/25. We review the 38 reported cases of EON published between 1967 and 2007, describe the clinical presentation from a systemic and ocular point of view, examine which ocular procedures were successful in identifying the bacterium, and analyze ocular morbidity and the factors affecting successful treatment.