LISTERIA-MONOCYTOGENES - INDUCED ENDOGENO US ENDOPHTHALMITIS IN AN OTHERWISE HEALTHY INDIVIDUUM - RAPID PCR-DIAGNOSTIC AS THE BASIS FOR AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT

Background Listeria monocytogenes is a rare cause of endogenous endoph thalmitis. Only 14 cases are published in the literature so far. All e yes showed similar clinical features and profound visual loss. Patient s and methods We report on a case of an otherwise healthy 73-year-old male. He was referred to our hospital because of acute hypopyoniritis with secondary glaucoma. Within a few hours the severity of the intrao cular infection increased dramatically resulting in the clinical pictu re of an acute endophthalmitis. Results and conclusion Early identific ation of the causative pathogen in the aqueous humor after anterior ch amber paracenthesis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the init iation of a specific, systemic antibiotic medication resulted in a com plete recovery of visual acuity.