Experimental Klebsiella-induced endophthalmitis in the rabbit.

Klebsiella organisms have been reported in postoperative endophthalmitis. We describe an experimental model of endophthalmitis with anterior segment inflammation over the injection of Klebsiella oxytoca into the rabbit vitreous. Within 24 hours, polymorphonuclear leukocytes were found at the corneal limbus, adjacent to the endothelium, in the iris and ciliary body, throughout the vitreous, and in the optic nerve. Retinal photoreceptor degeneration was widespread within 48 hours. Mononuclear cells appeared in the vitreous within 72 hours. Increased pathologic manifestations concomitant with decreased numbers of recoverable, viable organisms implicate the endotoxins of K oxytoca in the observed pathologic condition. Our model may be useful in further studies on antibiotic therapy in Klebsiella ocular infections and in continuing work on the cross-reaction between Klebsiella and HLA-B27.