Endogenous Serratia marcescens panophthalmitis: A case series

Abstract

Needle licking may be an underappreciated mechanism for endogenous endophthalmitis in intravenous drug users. This report includes the first case in the literature, to authors' knowledge, of non-nosocomial endogenous <i>Serratia marcescens</i> panophthalmitis with orbital cellulitis. The second case illustrates a rare consequence of the rise in arteriovenous fistula placement and dialysis across the United States, which may predispose to future cases of endogenous <i>Serratia marcescens</i> endophthalmitis. This series supports previous observations of <i>Serratia marcescens</i> endogenous endophthalmitis exhibiting a generally poor visual prognosis.