Unusual etiology of visual loss in an HIV-infected patient due to endogenous endophthalmitis

• Published in: Clinical microbiology and infection Vol. 7; no. 11; pp. 641 - 645
• Main Authors: Miailhes, P., Labetoulle, M., Naas, T., Guibert, M., Bourée, P., Frau, E., Nordmann, P., Galanaud, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Elsevier Ltd 01-11-2001; Blackwell Science Ltd; Blackwell; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - diagnosis; Antibacterial agents; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Biological and medical sciences; Candida albicans - genetics; Candida albicans - isolation & purification; candidal infection; Candidiasis - diagnosis; Candidiasis - microbiology; Endophthalmitis; Endophthalmitis - diagnosis; Endophthalmitis - microbiology; HIV; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Vision Disorders - microbiology; HIV; Endophthalmitis; candidal infection; Candida albicans; Mixed infection; HIV-1 virus; Pathogenesis; Vision disorder; Fungi; Etiology; Complication; Fungi Imperfecti; Endophtalmitis; Thallophyta; Human; Immunopathology; Opportunistic infection; Retroviridae; AIDS; Uvea disease; Immune deficiency; Lentivirus; Infection; Virus; Case study; Eye disease; Viral disease; Blindness; Human immunodeficiency virus
• ISSN: 1198-743X; 1469-0691
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1198-743x.2001.00276.x

Disseminated candidiasis, especially ocular infections such as endophthalmitis, is uncommon in HIV-infected patients. We report a case of candidal endophthalmitis in an HIV-positive non-drug-user patient, following candidemia from a cutaneous abscess at the site of a peripheral catheter. Ocular disease was revealed by a visual decrease in the left eye. DNA analysis using RAPD showed identical patterns of Candida albicans isolated from the skin and eye. Combination therapy with high-dose fluconazole and intravenous amphotericin B was performed. Two intravitreal amphotericin B injections and a vitrectomy were administered because of an amblyopic right eye and severe vitritis. The outcome was favorable without relapse at 18 months.