Contribution of molecular tools for the diagnosis of endogenous pneumococcal endophthalmitis in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Abstract

Confirmation of infectious endophthalmitis is a major challenge. Traditional microbial tools are frequently unsuccessful mostly due to very small fluid samples and prior use of antibiotics. Here we report the first case of Streptococcus pneumoniae endophthalmitis diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction. Molecular biology should be considered as a new tool for the diagnosis of such sequestered sites as the eye.