title: Klebsiella pneumoniae Infection: A Virulent Cause of Visual Loss.
abstract: Bacterial endophthalmitis is endogenous in 2-6% of cases and is frequently misdiagnosed initially. Klebsiella pneumoniae is being increasingly recognised as an aggressive causative organism, and it is particularly prevalent in Asian populations. We describe the case of a 71-year-old female of Southeast Asian origin with type 2 diabetes mellitus who presented with visual loss secondary to bacterial endophthalmitis and concomitant cerebral abscesses. Imaging revealed the probable primary source of infection to be a liver abscess. She developed retinal detachment and subsequently underwent an evisceration of her right eye. A Klebsiella spp. was identified from the eye tissue by 16S rRNA amplification. Klebsiella pneumoniae endophthalmitis has a characteristic disease phenotype and a particularly aggressive course with poor visual outcomes observed in most cases. This case highlights the risks of metastatic infection including bacterial endophthalmitis in association with Klebsiella infection.
authors.affiliation: Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Wai Cheong
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Soon
authors.affiliation: Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pouncey
authors.affiliation: Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ashley
authors.affiliation: Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Elizabeth Frances
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Bowen
keywords: Bacterial endophthalmitis; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Visual loss