Ollivier P, Lafon D, Haiat R, Theron J P
Service d'Ophtalmologie, Centre Hospitalier de Saint Germain-en-Laye.
J Fr Ophtalmol. 1991;14(2):119-22.
Infectious embolic retinopathy occurring secondary to a bacterial endocarditis is described in a 38-year-old woman with known aortic disease. The infectious organism was a haemophilus parainfluenzae confirmed by serial blood cultures and characterized by an embolic power equal to fungal infection. After four-weeks period of appropriate and intensive antibiotic therapy, blood cultures became negative but new emboli were observed in the fundus. This report describes ocular lesions rarely observed in endogenous bacterial retinitis. The delay between the bacterial endocarditis and the occurrence of the retinitis emphasizes the need for a long-term follow-up. Ophthalmologic examination can be acline for changing the heart valve.