Paquier-Valette C, Cante V, Brassat S, Camus M, Bolac C, Guillet G
Service de dermatologie, CHU de Poitiers, 2, rue de la Milétrie, 86000 Poitiers, France.
Ann Dermatol Venereol. 2013 Nov;140(11):718-21. doi: 10.1016/j.annder.2013.07.023. Epub 2013 Sep 24.
Endogenous endophthalmitis is a devastating infection of the eye that leads to blindness in about two-thirds of patients. It results from the haematogenous spread of a microorganism from a focus of sepsis, mainly gastro-intestinal, genitourinary or cardiac.
We describe the case of a diabetic subject presenting endogenous endophthalmitis following erysipelas of the leg due to Streptococcus agalactiae. The outcome was favourable thanks to prompt initiation of appropriate antibiotic treatment.
Endogenous endophthalmitis as a complication of a skin infection is a rare entity, with only about 30 reported cases in the literature. Awareness of this condition among dermatologists would allow prompt intervention, which is essential for sparing of the patient's eyesight.