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Case reports
Ophthalmic Pseudomonas infection in infancy
  1. E M Boylea,
  2. J R Ainsworthb,
  3. A V Levinc,
  4. A N Campbelld,
  5. M Watkinsona
  1. aNeonatal Unit, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham, UK, bDepartment of Ophthalmology, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, cDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Canada, dPaediatric Department, Royal Preston Hospital, Preston, UK
  1. Dr Watkinson, Neonatal Unit, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham B9 5SS, UKWatkinM{at}heartsol.wmids.nhs.uk

Abstract

Four infants developed invasive Pseudomonas aeruginosa ophthalmic infections between 5 and 90 days of age. Three died from septicaemia, and the fourth required enucleation of one eye. Absent red reflexes or other eye signs in a septicaemic infant merit urgent ophthalmological assessment for endophthalmitis, in particular, Pseudomonas.

Key messages

Key messages

  • Loss of red reflex, a change in the appearance of the iris, or purulent eye discharge can be clues to a life threatening ocular and systemic infection

  • Bilateral endophthalmitis can complicate neonatal pseudomonal septicaemia, and is a grave prognostic sign for survival

  • Treatment of neonatal endophthalmitis should include intravitreal and intravenous antibiotics

  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • eye
  • endophthalmitis
  • bacteria
  • infection

https://doi.org/10.1136/fn.85.2.F139

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