Haemophilus aphrophilus bleb infection after a mitomycin trabeculectomy.
BACKGROUND
Haemophilus aphrophilus is a rare cause of ocular infection. It has been reported once as a cause of late-onset endophthalmitis in a patient with an inadvertent bleb after cataract surgery. We present a case of Haemophilus aphrophilus bleb infection after a mitomycin trabeculectomy.


METHODS
A 56-year-old woman presented with a bleb infection 10 weeks after a mitomycin C augmented trabeculectomy at a University tertiary referral practice of one of the authors (GET). The causative organism was Haemophilus aphrophilus, identified by the Toronto Public Health Laboratory, Ontario, Canada.


RESULTS
The bleb infection resolved following topical, subconjunctival and intravenous antibiotic therapy. A formal bleb revision was required to repair a persistent bleb leak.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients who have had trabeculectomies augmented with mitomycin C may be predisposed to bleb infection with unusual organisms. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is necessary to control the infection. Increased awareness and communication with laboratory personnel may increase the isolation of this fastidious organism.
Macken
P L
PL
Department of Ophthalmology, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 2S8, Canada.
Boyd
S R
SR
Campbell
I
I
Chang
D
D
Rootman
D S
DS
Trope
G E
GE
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006190:Haemophilus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D014130:Trabeculectomy
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D016685:Mitomycin; C009935:prednisolone acetate; D011239:Prednisolone