Infective Endocarditis with No Underlying Disease for Which Bacterial Endophthalmitis Have Been the First Symptom

Bacterial endophthalmitis is a rare complication of infective endocarditis (IE). We herein report a case of IE with no underlying disease for which endophthalmitis could have been the first symptom. A 58-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a fever, vision disturbances, and pain in the left hand joint. His left eye was removed because fusion on the cornea progressed. Streptococcus agalactiae was detected in blood cultures, fluid cultures from his left hand joint, and the removed eye. Bacterial endophthalmitis may present as the first symptom of IE and develop without underlying disease due to S. agalactiae infection.

Keywords: Streptococcus agalactiae; aortic valve replacement; bacterial endophthalmitis; infective endocarditis; septic emboli.