Cluster of Post-Operative Endophthalmitis Caused by Acanthamoeba T10 Genotype - A First Report.

PURPOSE: To report a cluster of postoperative Acanthamoeba endophthalmitis after routine cataract surgeries. METHODS: A brief summary of sentinel events leading to the referral of 4 patients of postoperative endophthalmitis to our hospital is followed by clinical descriptions and the various diagnostic approaches and interventions used. Genotyping and phylogenetic analysis are also discussed. RESULTS: Four cases of postoperative cluster endophthalmitis, presumed to be bacterial and treated as such, were referred to our hospital. The presence of an atypical ring infiltrate in the first case facilitated the diagnosis of Acanthamoeba endophthalmitis. All patients had vitritis, corneal involvement, and scleral inflammation. Multiple diagnostic methods, such as corneal scrapings, confocal microscopy, aqueous and vitreous taps, scleral abscess drainage, histopathological studies, polymerase chain reaction, and genotyping and phylogenetic analyses of isolated Acanthamoeba, were used to confirm the diagnosis of endophthalmitis and to establish the extent of ocular involvement. Various medical and therapeutic interventions used to control the infections were also documented. The isolated Acanthamoeba were confirmed as belonging to the T10 genotype, an environmentally and clinically rare variety. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of a cluster of postoperative T10 genotype Acanthamoeba endophthalmitis, occurring after routine cataract surgery in immunocompetent individuals. Contrary to current perceptions, a rapidly evolving infection can occur with Acanthamoeba.

Diagnostic Evaluation of Co-Occurrence of Acanthamoeba and Fungi in Keratitis: A Preliminary Report.

PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that the coexistence of Acanthamoeba with other forms of microbial keratitis, especially fungal keratitis (FK), is more prevalent than suspected. METHODS: A prospective diagnostic study whereby patients presenting with stromal keratitis were additionally tested for Acanthamoeba, irrespective of the initial diagnosis. In addition to the routine workup with Gram stain, KOH mount, and cultures on blood agar and potato dextrose agar, nonnutrient agar was included. Confocal microscopy was performed where feasible. Samples for polymerase chain reaction studies were also obtained. We present the preliminary report of the first 100 culture-positive cases. The primary outcome measured was the number of coexistent Acanthamoeba and FK. The secondary outcomes were the total number of Acanthamoeba cases detected and the correlation between clinical diagnosis and microbiological observations. RESULTS: Of the first 100 cases, 22 were culture positive for Acanthamoeba, of which 9 were associated with concurrent FK, 5 with bacterial keratitis, and 8 in isolation. However, only 2 cases were diagnosed clinically as Acanthamoeba, whereas 5 were Acanthamoeba suspects. An additional 4 cases of fungal/Acanthamoeba coexistence in keratitis were revealed purely by confocal microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Acanthamoeba can coexist with other forms of microbial keratitis. The frequency of infection coexistent or otherwise is higher than reported, and the possibility of coinfection must be considered especially in unresponsive cases. Including nonnutrient agar and confocal microscopy in all cases of keratitis would perhaps translate into better treatment strategies and outcomes.

Association of Pseudoexfoliation With Systemic Vascular Diseases in a South Indian Population.

IMPORTANCE: Ocular pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome may be associated with systemic vascular diseases, which might suggest a broader health significance of PEX, although previous reports are conflicting. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether prespecified vascular risk factors and cardiac abnormalities are more common among patients with PEX than among control individuals without PEX. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional analysis of patients recruited into the Aravind Pseudoexfoliation study included South Indian patients older than 40 years with or without PEX who required cataract surgery. Surgical procedures were performed at 4 tertiary Aravind eye hospitals in Tamil Nadu, India, from December 2, 2010, through March 26, 2012. Nine hundred thirty patients with PEX and 476 non-PEX controls underwent detailed ocular examinations, including specific ocular features reflecting PEX. Patients also underwent evaluation for multiple systemic potential cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors. The data collection for this analysis on systemic vascular diseases started on December 2, 2010, and ended on April 30, 2014. This study analysis was specified in the study protocol. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Five cardiovascular outcomes compared between patients with and without PEX included blood glucose, cholesterol, and homocysteine levels; blood pressure; and cardiac morbidity (defined by electrocardiographic [ECG] abnormalities). RESULTS: The study analysis included 930 patients in the PEX group and 476 in the non-PEX group. The mean (SD) ages of patients in the PEX and non-PEX groups were 64.8 (6.8) and 59.9 (7.3) years (P < .001), respectively. More patients in the PEX group were men (470 [50.5%] vs 460 women [49.5%]) than in the non-PEX group (201 [42.2%] vs 275 women [57.8%]; P < .001). In multivariable analyses adjusting for age and sex, higher systolic blood pressure values were noted for the PEX group (difference [Δ], 4.0 mm Hg; 95% CI, 1.7-6.2 mm Hg; P = .001). Also, patients in the PEX group were more likely to demonstrate an ECG abnormality than in the non-PEX group (odds ratio, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.04-2.60; P = .03). Pseudoexfoliation was not observed to be associated with a higher level of blood glucose (Δ, 6.2 mg/dL; 95% CI, -2.0 to 14.3 mg/dL; P = .14), serum cholesterol (Δ, -0.6 mg/dL; 95% CI, -5.1 to 4.0 mg/dL; P = .81), or serum homocysteine level (Δ, 0.004 mg/L; 95% CI, -0.12 to 0.14; P = .96). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Of the 5 cardiovascular outcomes examined in South Indian patients requiring cataract surgery, PEX was associated with higher systolic blood pressure and more frequent ECG abnormalities but not with higher blood glucose, serum cholesterol, or serum homocysteine levels. Patients with PEX are more likely to require attention to blood pressure and cardiac morbidity.