A cluster of endophthalmitis caused by Mycobacterium abscessus after cataract surgery

J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2016 Oct;49(5):799-803. doi: 10.1016/j.jmii.2014.02.001. Epub 2014 Mar 21.

Abstract

We report two cases of postoperative endophthalmitis after cataract surgery caused by the same strain of Mycobacterium abscessus confirmed by arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction, sequencing of the erythromycin ribosome methyltransferase gene and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The outcomes were poor despite aggressive treatments. This is the first report of nontuberculous mycobacteria as a causative pathogen for a cluster of endophthalmitis.

Keywords: Atypical mycobacteria; Endophthalmitis; Mycobacterium abscessus infection; Nontuberculous mycobacteria.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aged
  • Amikacin / therapeutic use
  • Betamethasone / therapeutic use
  • Cataract / microbiology*
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field / methods
  • Endophthalmitis / microbiology*
  • Endophthalmitis / pathology
  • Eye / microbiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methyltransferases / genetics
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Typing
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / drug therapy
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / microbiology*
  • Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / classification*
  • Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / isolation & purification*
  • Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / adverse effects*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Postoperative Complications / drug therapy
  • Postoperative Complications / microbiology
  • Taiwan
  • Vitrectomy

Substances

  • Amikacin
  • Betamethasone
  • Methyltransferases
  • S-adenosylmethionine-erythromycin O-methyltransferase