[Listeria monocytogenes endophthalmitis].

PURPOSE: Listeria monocytogenes is a rare cause of endogenous endophthalmitis. Controversy exists concerning clinical progress and prognosis in this bacterial infection. However, only a few reports about the clinical features have been previously published in the literature.

CASE REPORT: The case of a 24-year-old woman is reported. She developed an endogenous endophthalmitis within 3 weeks. The patient received a pars-plana vitrectomy showing Listeria monocytogenes in the vitreous body. An intensive antibiotic therapy was initiated (local, subconjunctival, intravitreal and systemic). Visual acuity was increased from hand motion to 0.5 by the end of the clinical attendance and to 1.0 three months later. There were no hints concerning systemic manifestation of listeriosis or granuloma formation.

CONCLUSION

Frequently, endogenous endophthalmitis has a very poor prognosis. However, the presented case report describes a very prosperous progress of endogenous endophthalmitis caused by an infection with Listeria monocytogenes.