A case of postoperative Sphingomonas paucimobilis endophthalmitis after parsplana vitrectomy

Abstract

We report a case of acute onset of postoperative endophthalmitis following pars plana vitrectomy, in a healthy middle-aged male person, caused by Sphingomonas paucimobilis, a gram-negative bacillus widely distributed in the environment and reported to cause opportunistic infection in immunocompromised. The case showed complete resolution on vitrectomy and intravitreal antibiotics. The bacillus was multi-drug resistant, showing resistance to all known commonly used antibiotics except intermediate sensitivity to meropenem. There have been two reported cases of postoperative endophthalmitis caused by Sphingomonas paucimobilis following cataract surgery, but this is the first reported case following pars plana vitrectomy.