CAPNOCYTOPHAGA ENDOPHTHALMITIS

Purpose: This article presents three patients with endophthalmitis ass ociated with infection with Capnocytophaga species. Methods: The medic al records of three patients with culture-positive Capnocytophaga endo phthalmitis were reviewed. A panel of isolates of Capnocytophaga were then tested for sensitivity to third-generation cephalosporins. Result s: Endophthalmitis with Capnocytophaga species developed in three pati ents. Infection in the setting of sepsis developed in one patient. Two other patients, one with a penetrating injury and another with kerati tis in association with a corneal graft, developed mixed infection wit h Capnocytophaga being the predominant infecting organism by culture. Two patients recovered vision with clearance of the infection. The thi rd patient underwent enucleation. Capnocytophaga was found to be sensi tive to several of the third-generation cephalosporins. To the best of the authors' knowledge, these are the first reported cases of endopht halmitis with Capnocytophaga species. Conclusion: Capnocytophaga speci es, previously shown to cause necrotizing keratitis, is a potential ca use of endophthalmitis, either as a single organism or as part of a mi xed infection.