[Listeria endophthalmitis]

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is a rare cause of endogenous endophthalmitis. During the last 20 years about 30 cases have been published, all of which showed similar clinical features and a profound visual loss mainly owing to delayed diagnosis. This case report is about an otherwise healthy 41-year-old woman whose diagnosis was established 17 days after the onset of symptoms by microbiological cultures. Under sufficient therapy signs of local inflammation disappeared and intraocular pressure decreased. Pars plana vitrectomy was necessary; although post-surgery complications developed, the result was complete recovery of visual acuity.