Clostridium beijerinckii endophthalmitis secondary to penetrating ocular injury

Endophthalmitis occurs in five to 10% of injuries involving intraocular foreign bodies. A 52 year old abattoir worker sustained such penetrating ocular trauma and developed fulminant endophthalmitis. Clostridium beijerinckii was isolated from the vitreous humor. Intravitreal vancomycin and amikacin and intravenous penicillin and clindamycin were given. Despite therapeutic vancomycin and amikacin levels in the vitreous, vision was lost and enucleation was ultimately required.