Acute endogenous endophthalmitis due to Bartonella henselae

A 45-year-old man presented with progressively worsening vitreitis of 1 wee k's duration. Treatment for cat-scratch disease 3 years prior to presentati on and persistent vitreitis led to vitrectomy, and analysis of the vitrecto my specimen revealed inflammatory cells and necrotic debris; polymerase-cha in-reaction analysis of the vitreous fluid sample, done by use of a novel h eminested protocol, demonstrated the presence of Bartonella henselae DNA. T reatment with doxycycline led to improvement in the intraocular inflammatio n but resulted in a poor visual outcome.