title: Listeria Monocytogenes: a rare cause of endophthalmitis, a case report.
abstract: Listeria monocytogenesis a known cause of gastroenteritis. Invasive disease can follow bacteremia causing meningoencephalitis, endocarditis and spontaneous miscarriages in immunocompromised patients and pregnant women respectively. We present the first case in England of endogenous endophthalmitis caused byL. monocytogenesfollowing acute gastroenteritis in an immunocompetent host. A 50-year-old South Asian female presented with acute painful unilateral visual loss occurring shortly after an episode of self-limiting gastroenteritis. On examination, the eye was very inflamed with a hypopyon uveitis. A vitreous biopsy confirmed growth ofL.monocytogenesserotype 1/2a. Diagnostic delay commonly occurs in endogenous endophthalmitis and exacerbates an already poor visual prognosis. Listeria spp. must be considered in ocular inflammation following gastroenteritis. The intraocular inflammation subsided but surgical intervention was required to remove vitreous debris and improve visual acuity.
authors.affiliation: University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK.
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gaskell
authors.affiliation: Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Gwyn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Bacteriology Reference Department, National Infection Service, Public Health England, UK.
authors.forename: Kathie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.affiliation: Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lightman
authors.affiliation: University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK; Bacteriology Reference Department, National Infection Service, Public Health England, UK.
authors.forename: Gauri
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Godbole
keywords: Endogenous endophthalmitis; Gastroenteritis; Listeria monocytogenes; Ocular inflammation