A case of endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis caused by Streptococcus bovis

Abstract

Background: Streptococcus bovis is a gram-positive streptococcus present as normal flora in the digestive tracts of herbivores. It is occasionally isolated from the human intestine and may act as a causative organism of infectious endocarditis, urinary infections and meningitis. This report describes a rare case of a patient that underwent surgical treatment for endogenous endophthalmitis caused by S. bovis complicated by bacteremia and suppurative spondylitis.

Methods: Endophthalmitis of the right eye occurred in a 76-year-old man accompanied by hypopyon and prominent vitreous opacity complicated by suppurative spondylitis. The visual acuity of the right eye consisted of light perception. Lensectomy and vitrectomy were performed immediately using a perfusate containing antibiotics. Antibiotics were administered by intravenous infusion following surgery.

Results: S. bovis was detected in the cultures of blood and vitreous fluid collected during surgery. The visual acuity was 20/160 at 11 months after surgery.

Conclusions: Reports of endogenous endophthalmitis in human caused by S. bovis have not been found to date in a search of the MEDLINE database. This is the first report of acute endogenous endophthalmitis caused by S. bovis.