Exogenous Endophthalmitis

ABSTRACT

Purpose

Exogenous endophthalmitis (ExE) results from microbial infection as a complication of ocular surgery, penetrating ocular trauma, and intraocular foreign bodies. We herein review the classification of ExE, etiological agents, differential diagnosis and therapeutic challenges.

Methods

Narrative Literature Review.

Results

Identification of the causative agent through ocular fluid analysis is central in the diagnostic work-up of ExE. Prompt intravitreal antimicrobial therapy is key to successful management of ExE and vitrectomy is essential in severe cases. In culture-negative cases, and in the presence of specific features, a diagnosis of sterile intraocular inflammation or toxic syndrome should be suspected.

Conclusion

Strict adherence to treatment guidelines may improve outcomes of ExE, however the ultimate prognosis, especially in severe cases, may depend more on the virulence of the causative organism and associated ocular complications. Accurate differential diagnosis and effective treatment are crucial elements in the management and prognosis of non-infectious masquerades of ExE.

KEYWORDS:

• Infectious endophthalmitis
• ocular surgery
• ocular toxic syndromes
• sterile endophthalmitis
• uveitis

Disclosure statement

Janet L. Davis declares the following interests: Data Safety Monitoring committees for 4D Molecular Therapeutics and Kodiak Biosciences. NIH grant support through subcontracts with Johns Hopkins University and the University of California San Francisco. Claudia Fabiani, Manisha Agarwal, Mohit Dogra and Gian Marco Tosi report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.