Lactobacillus acidophilus Endophthalmitis Postcataract Operation: A Case Report with a Literature Review

ABSTRACT

Background

Lactobacillus acidophilus is usually considered nonpathogenic and widely distributed in the human gastrointestinal and vaginal tract. In rare cases, lactobacilli may cause eye infections.

Case presentation

We report a 71-year-old man who experienced unexpected ocular pain and decreased visual acuity for one day after cataract surgery. He presented with obvious conjunctival and circumciliary congestion, corneal haze, anterior chamber cells, anterior chamber empyema, posterior corneal deposits, and pupil light reflection disappearance. This patient underwent the standard three-port 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy and received the intravitreal perfusion of vancomycin at 1 mg/0.1 mL. The culture of the vitreous fluid produced Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Conclusion

Acute Lactobacillus acidophilus endophthalmitis can occur after cataract surgery, which should be taken into consideration.

KEYWORDS:

• Cataract
• endophthalmitis
• Lactobacillus acidophilus
• phacoemulsification

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Science and Technology Foundation of the Tianjin Eye Hospital [grant number YK ZD1902]; Tianjin Health Research Project [grant number TJWJ2022ZD009]; Tianjin Science and Technology Project [grant number 22JCZDJC00280].