DocWire News Editors

DocwireNews

Intravenous drug users (IDUs) who are asymptomatic with bacteremia related to IDU may have ophthalmic involvement, according to a study presented by Jessica E Weinstein, MD, MS, of the Wake Forest School of Medicine, at the 37th ASRS Annual Meeting.
The opioid epidemic has resulted in an augmented in infection complication related to IDU. However, the rate of endophthalmitis in patients with bacteria caused by IDU is to-date “poorly characterized”. Therefore, the researchers of this study aimed to discern the prevalence of lesions, and causative organisms, and to determine if symptoms are linked with ophthalmic involvement.
In this prospective study, single-center study, researchers enrolled 59 patients (49% male, 51%, mean age, 34) admitted to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center (WFBMC) with documented bloodstream infections to IDU. All participants were 18 years of age or older, and 12.5% had ocular symptoms at the time of exam. Subsequently, researchers performed a dilated retinal exam with 72 hours while documenting ocular symptoms along with visual acuity. All exam findings were documented, and the study team collected fundus photos when necessary to further assess the data.
According to the findings of this study, 18% (7/40) of patients had ocular involvement on exam, and of the patients with ocular involvement, 43% (3/7) were symptomatic. 5% (2/40) had multifocal chorioretinal scars, possibly related to prior infection. The organisms comprised in the study cases included: isolated Candida albicans endophthalmitis in which the patient was symptomatic; MRSA endocarditis and septic pulmonary emboli with subretinal infiltrate and hemorrhage, MSSA endocarditis and sepsis with multiple subretinal lesions and hemorrhage, streptococcus mitis endocarditis causing cotton wool spots and hemorrhage, MRSA with renal and brow abscesses, streptococcus pyogenes with sternoclavicular joint abscess and brachial vein thrombosis with retinal infiltrate and CWS, and MRSA with aortic valve endocarditis, pulmonary nodules and an abducens palsy.
“These results demonstrate that asymptomatic patients with bacteremia related to IDU may have ophthalmic involvement,” the researchers wrote. They added that “further study is needed to better characterize the epidemiology of these infections and to identify risk factors for ocular involvement in this patient population.”
Weinstein J. Lesions of the Vitreous, Choroid, and Retina in Intravenous Drug Users. Presented at the 37th ASRS Annual Meeting; July 26-30, 2019; Chicago, IL.
Read more (login required): <a href="https://meeting2019.asrs.org/ondemand#/ondemand/papers/lesions-of-the-vitreous-choroid-and-retina-in-intravenous-drug-users-idus-h-627">https://meeting2019.asrs.org/ondemand#/ondemand/papers/lesions-of-the-vitreous-choroid-and-retina-in-intravenous-drug-users-idus-h-627</a>

Intravenous drug users (IDUs) who are asymptomatic with bacteremia related to IDU may have ophthalmic involvement, according to a study presented by Jessica E Weinstein, MD, MS, of the Wake Forest School of Medicine, at the 37th ASRS Annual Meeting.The opioid epidemic has resulted in an augmented in infection complication related to IDU. However, the rate of endophthalmitis in patients with bacteria caused by IDU is to-date “poorly characterized”. Therefore, the researchers of this study aimed to discern the prevalence of lesions, and causative organisms, and to determine if symptoms are linked with ophthalmic involvement.In this prospective study, single-center study, researchers enrolled 59 patients (49% male, 51%, mean age, 34) admitted to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center (WFBMC) with documented bloodstream infections to IDU. All participants were 18 years of age or older, and 12.5% had ocular symptoms at the time of exam. Subsequently, researchers performed a dilated retinal exam with 72 hours while documenting ocular symptoms along with visual acuity. All exam findings were documented, and the study team collected fundus photos when necessary to further assess the data.According to the findings of this study, 18% (7/40) of patients had ocular involvement on exam, and of the patients with ocular involvement, 43% (3/7) were symptomatic. 5% (2/40) had multifocal chorioretinal scars, possibly related to prior infection. The organisms comprised in the study cases included: isolated Candida albicans endophthalmitis in which the patient was symptomatic; MRSA endocarditis and septic pulmonary emboli with subretinal infiltrate and hemorrhage, MSSA endocarditis and sepsis with multiple subretinal lesions and hemorrhage, streptococcus mitis endocarditis causing cotton wool spots and hemorrhage, MRSA with renal and brow abscesses, streptococcus pyogenes with sternoclavicular joint abscess and brachial vein thrombosis with retinal infiltrate and CWS, and MRSA with aortic valve endocarditis, pulmonary nodules and an abducens palsy.“These results demonstrate that asymptomatic patients with bacteremia related to IDU may have ophthalmic involvement,” the researchers wrote. They added that “further study is needed to better characterize the epidemiology of these infections and to identify risk factors for ocular involvement in this patient population.”Weinstein J. Lesions of the Vitreous, Choroid, and Retina in Intravenous Drug Users. Presented at the 37th ASRS Annual Meeting; July 26-30, 2019; Chicago, IL.Read more (login required): <a href="https://meeting2019.asrs.org/ondemand#/ondemand/papers/lesions-of-the-vitreous-choroid-and-retina-in-intravenous-drug-users-idus-h-627">https://meeting2019.asrs.org/ondemand#/ondemand/papers/lesions-of-the-vitreous-choroid-and-retina-in-intravenous-drug-users-idus-h-627</a>

Madison Johnson, BS

Mythili Shastry, PhD

Sarah Premji, MD

Erika P. Hamilton, MD

Key Updates From ESMO Breast Cancer 2025: Shaping the Future of Care

HER2 Breast Cancer

Leah Lawrence

Asthma Risk Greater in Female Night Shift Workers

Asthma

Lauren Dembeck, PhD

Multi-Strain Probiotic Well Tolerated by Patients With IBD and IBS Symptoms

Gastroenterology

Latest News

Lesions of the Vitreous, Choroid, and Retina in Intravenous Drug Users (IDUs) Hospitalized with Bloodstream Infections

ASRS 2019

Intravenous drug users (IDUs) who are asymptomatic with bacteremia related to IDU may have ophthalmic involvement

Lesions of the Vitreous, Choroid, and Retina in Intravenous Drug Users (IDUs) Hospitalized with

About Us

Editorial Policy

Advertising

Contact Us

eNewsletters

Contribute

Career Center

MashupMD

Blood Cancers Today

Cancer Nursing Today

GU Oncology Now

Urban Health Today

Anemia

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Essential Thrombocythemia

Hemophilia

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Myelofibrosis

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Polycythemia Vera

Pulmonary Embolism

Sickle Cell Disease

Thrombocytopenia

Thrombophilia

Thrombosis

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Venous Thromboembolism

von Willebrand Disease

Heme Today

Acute Kidney Injury

ADPKD

Anemia and Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease

COVID-19 and Kidney Disease

Diabetes and Hypertension

End-Stage Renal Disease

Gout

Hyperkalemia

IgAN

Kidney Transplantation

Metabolic Acidosis

Nephrology Times

HR Breast Cancer

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Genetics & Breast Cancer

Breast Cancers Today

Diabetes

Obesity

Metabolic Care Today

Atherosclerotic Disease

Atrial Fibrillation

Heart Failure

Hypertension

Interventional Cardiology

Lipid Management

Practice Tips With Dr. Lichaa

Preventive Cardiology

Stroke

Cardiology

Breast Cancer

Gynecologic Cancer

Head and Neck Cancer

Skin Cancer

Oncology

Sleep

Urology

Ophthalmology

— Demodex Blepharitis

Neurology

Rheumatology

Pulmonology

Infectious Diseases

— HIV

Health and Wellness

Lupus

Future of Medicine

Orthopedics

Pharmacology

Career News

More

Conferences

CardioNerds

The Sleep Source With Dr. Morse

Rheumatology Rounds With Dr. Maheswaranathan

Partners

Expert Interviews

Subscribe