Brief report
Bilateral Blindness From Orbital Cellulitis Caused by Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2005.03.076Get rights and content

Purpose

To describe bilateral blindness resulting from infection with community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Design

Observational case report.

Methods

A 44-year-old man developed proptosis, ptosis, ophthalmoplegia, and no light perception vision after attempting to lance a nasal pustule. A nasal culture grew MRSA. Imaging showed bilateral orbital cellulitis, pansinusitis, and cavernous sinus thrombosis. The right fundus showed severe ischemia, but the left fundus was essentially normal.

Results

Despite initiation of appropriate antibiotics early in the course of infection, the patient lost sight in both eyes. Surgical drainage of the paranasal sinuses and use of intravenous corticosteroids and heparin led to the resolution of orbital cellulitis.

Conclusions

MRSA orbital cellulitis can progress to irreversible blindness despite antibiotic treatment. A new, community-acquired clone of this organism has exhibited increased potential for tissue invasion.

References (5)

  • S.V. Kazakova et al.

    A clone of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among professional football players

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    (2005)

  • Public health dispatchoutbreaks of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin infections–Los Angeles County, California, 2002–2003

    MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep

    (2003)
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (0)

This research was supported by an unrestricted grant from Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc., New York, New York.

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