Metastatic Serratia marcescens Endophthalmitis

Abstract

Metastatic endophthalmitis in a ten-day-old baby who underwent colostomy for an unperforated anus and developed septicemia to Serratia marcescens is described. Although rapid isolation of the agent enabled efficacious specific antibiotic treatment and systemic eradication of the infective agent, the ocular condition continued to deteriorate. Because of the total loss of visual functions and the fear of possible development of sympathetic ophthalmia, enucleation rather than vitrectomy or evisceration was performed. Histopathologic examination of the globe revealed massive infiltrates within the choroid and optic nerve with total destruction of the retinal architecture. The child recovered immediately after surgery and was discharged a week later.