Exogenous Neisseria meningitidis endophthalmitis.

PURPOSE: To report a case of Neisseria meningitidis endophthalmitis in association with a leaking filtering bleb and to consider antibiotic prophylaxis of those people with whom the patient had contact.

METHOD: We treated an 81-year-old man who had a chronic, leaking filtering bleb and who developed exogenous N meningitidis endophthalmitis.

RESULT: N meningitidis endophthalmitis was controlled with antibiotic therapy. Antibiotic prophylaxis for those with whom the patient had contact was not recommended.

CONCLUSION

In this case, the N meningitidis strain was not considered invasive because the bacteria apparently entered the eye through a leaky filtering bleb and not through the bloodstream. Recovery of noninvasive N meningitidis does not require prophylaxis for patient contacts. In cases of endogenous or idiopathic N meningitidis endophthalmitis, antibiotic prophylaxis of close patient contacts may be warranted.