title: Nocardia brasiliensis endophthalmitis in a patient with an exposed Ahmed glaucoma drainage implant.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a case of endophthalmitis due to Nocardia brasiliensis in an eye with an exposed, infected Ahmed glaucoma drainage implant (GDI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  A patient with an exposed GDI experienced recurrent episodes of endophthalmitis despite repeated intravitreal injections of antibiotics and steroids. The tube was initially repositioned and finally removed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whereas repeated cultures from the anterior chamber and vitreous were negative, cultures from the removed tube grew Nocardia brasiliensis. Despite oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and intravitreal amikacin the eye became phthisical and lost light perception.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An exposed GDI may lead to endophthalmitis due to Nocardia brasiliensis and may require explantation to establish a diagnosis.
authors: Michael W
authors: MW
authors: Stewart
authors: James P
authors: JP
authors: Bolling
authors: Rick E
authors: RE
authors: Bendel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000382:microbiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D020327:Glaucoma Drainage Implants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D015812:Glaucoma, Angle-Closure / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009615:Nocardia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies