Acute fulminant post-operative endophthalmitis by Pasteurella caecimuris: A rare case report

Abstract

The incidence of acute post-operative endophthalmitis (APOE) following cataract surgery in India is comparable to most of the developed world despite performing high-volume cataract surgery. Most infections are caused by bacteria, Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species being the predominant pathogens, which are similar to the findings of most published literatures. However, there is also a significant number of infections seen to be caused by Gram-negative bacteria and fungus. Amid Gram-negative microbes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common organism followed by Acinetobacter spp., Klebsiella spp., Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp., and Alkaligenes spp. Another rare newly emerging ocular pathogen is Pasteurella species. Human infections by some species of Pasteurella involving soft tissue, skin, bone, joints, and wounds have been reported following animal exposure. However, there are no documented cases of ocular involvement in humans by Pasteurella caecimuris. We herein report the first case of APOE by this species. P. caecimuris induced endophthalmitis is very fulminant in nature and should be dealt with aggressive intervention.