Endophthalmitis from Mycobacterium bovis-bacille Calmette-Guérin after intravesicular bacille Calmette-Guérin injections for bladder carcinoma.

Abstract

To present clinical and histologic findings of intraocular infection with Mycobacterium bovis-bacille Calmette-Guérin after intravesicular bacille Calmette-Guérin injections for treatment of bladder carcinoma. A 77-year-old man was initially seen with visual acuity of 20/200, focal retinitis, vasculitis, and progressive vitreous opacity in the right eye and visual acuity of light perception, intraocular inflammation, and a dense cataract in the left eye 14 months after intravesicular injection of live bacille Calmette-Guérin organisms. Vitreous cultures in the right eye demonstrated growth of bacille Calmette-Guérin organisms. Bilateral loss of light perception occurred despite systemic antimy-cobacterial therapy. Histopathologic examination demonstrated nongranulomatous inflammation and acid-fast bacilli in both eyes. Delayed endogenous endophthalmitis may develop after intravesicular bacille Calmette-Guérin injection that may not respond to systemic agents. Intravitreal therapy may be indicated.