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Subretinal abscess

To cite: Pittenger B, Young JW, Mansoor AM. BMJ Case Rep Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/ bcr-2017-219607 DESCRIPTION A 32-year-old man with a history of intravenous drug… Click to show full abstract

To cite: Pittenger B, Young JW, Mansoor AM. BMJ Case Rep Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/ bcr-2017-219607 DESCRIPTION A 32-year-old man with a history of intravenous drug use was admitted to the hospital for evaluation of intermittent fever and chills over the course of several weeks. On examination, the temperature was 39.0°C and pulse rate 110 bpm. A grade 2/6 holosystolic murmur was appreciated at the left lower sternal border. Transthoracic echocardiography with agitated saline contrast demonstrated an echodensity on the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve associated with mild tricuspid regurgitation and a right-to-left shunt. Blood cultures grew methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. On the third day of hospitalisation, mild conjunctival erythema of the right eye was observed, which was associated with discomfort and a subjective decrease in vision. Visual fields on confrontation revealed a large inferior scotoma. Bedside indirect ophthalmoscopy established the presence of a yellow, elevated subretinal mass ∼10 times the diameter of the optic disc, adjacent to the superiortemporal vascular arcade, with associated intraretinal haemorrhage (figure 1). These findings were consistent with subretinal abscess. Such abscesses are vision threatening and can progress despite systemic and intraocular antibiotics. Severe cases can lead to retinal detachment and may require surgical intervention, including vitrectomy and retinectomy. In this case, the abscess progressively decreased in size following intravenous vancomycin and intravitreal injections of vancomycin and ceftazidime, with retention of 20/20 vision. Learning points

Keywords: abscess; vision; subretinal abscess; case

Journal Title: BMJ Case Reports
Year Published: 2017

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