Traumatic endophthalmitis caused by Nocardia kruczakiae in a patient with traumatic eye injury

BACKGROUND: We describe a case of traumatic ocular endophthalmitis caused by Nocardia kruczakiae after vegetable trauma in an immunocompetent child. FINDINGS: A 5-year-old boy suffered from a trauma with a palm tree leaflet. Two months later, he was diagnosed with traumatic infectious uveitis and intumescent cataract with anterior capsule rupture. Intensive treatment with systemic and topical vancomycin, ceftazidime and methylprednisolone began. After 1 month, he underwent phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation (IOL). After some episodes of reactivation, he was diagnosed with traumatic nocardial endophthalmitis from aqueous humour samples. Several operations and specific antibiotic therapy resolved the infection. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of traumatic endophthalmitis and several recurrences, it is extremely useful to make an etiologic diagnosis in order to treat the patient with specific antibiotics.