A devastating ocular pathogen: beta-streptococcus Group G.
OBJECTIVE
To report the clinical findings, treatment, and outcomes of four cases of beta-streptococcus Group G (BHS-G) ocular infection.


METHODS
The medical and microbiologic records of four cases of BHS-G ocular infection were retrospectively reviewed.


RESULTS
Two cases of BHS-G endophthalmitis and two cases of BHS-G keratitis were recorded. Three patients developed fulminant infection within 12 hours of the onset of symptoms. One patient's history was incomplete. One patient developed endophthalmitis from a contaminated donor button; another following cataract surgery. One developed keratitis in a keratoplasty suture tract; and another patient developed a corneal abscess after being struck with a tree branch. The patient with the contaminated donor button developed overwhelming endophthalmitis resulting in no light perception vision, severe pain, and evisceration. The postoperative cataract patient developed a purulent endophthalmitis and is still hypotonus with light perception vision. The second keratitis patient developed a significant suture abscess with marked stromal loss but eventually healed. The traumatic keratitis patient developed a large ulcer with hypopyon and descemetocele but was lost to follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report of a series of BHS-G ocular infections. The ocular infections were characterized by rapid onset, extreme inflammation, and--despite in vitro antibiotic sensitivity--a poor or sluggish response to antibiotic therapy.
Ritterband
D C
DC
Department of Ophthalmology, The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York 10003, USA.
Shah
M K
MK
Buxton
D J
DJ
Intal
M C
MC
Guthrie
D S
DS
Seedor
J A
JA
D000038:Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000382:microbiology; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014821:Vitrectomy; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000382:microbiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents