A case of endophthalmitis resulting from a cat bite

Background: The development of endophthalmitis after a cat bite is rare. We report a case of endophthalmitis that developed in a child as the result of a cat bite. Case Report: A 1-year-old male infant was bitten in his right eye by his pet cat. The following day, endophthalmitis was diagnosed at Nayoro City General Hospital and the patient was referred to Asahikawa Medical College Hospital. Hypopyon and a scleral wound were noted. On the same day, the patient underwent surgery to suture the scleral wound, irrigate the anterior chamber, and inject antibiotics intravitreously. Pasteurella multocida, the bacterium indigenous to the feline oral cavity and assumed to be the cause of the endophthalmitis in this case, grew in cultures of a swab from the scleral wound. The wound healed well. Conclusions: Emergency management of the wound and administration of antibiotics effective against P. multocida, the presumed pathogen in cases of cat bite, are important for optimal outcome of endophthalmitis that develops after a cat bite.