[Endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis. Report of 3 cases].

Since the antibiotic era, endophthalmitis has been a rare complication of bacterial septicemia. The authors report hereby 3 cases of endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis. Both eyes were involved in one case. Causative bacteria were identified in blood. Cultures were positive respectively for Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. All patients received intravenous antibiotherapy, once intravitreal antibiotic was injected. Clinical manifestations were three times panophthalmitis with dramatic course. In one case, only the anterior segment was involved. The course became complicated with a cataract, but the patient finally recovered. Although several clinical types with distinct prognoses can be defined, endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis remains a devastating situation. Treatment is controversial because of the uncertainty about the value of intravitreal antibiotics and vitreous surgery.