Delayed-onset postoperative endophthalmitis caused by Hafnia alvei.

PURPOSE: To identify Hafnia alvei as an etiological factor of delayed-onset endophthalmitis. CASE REPORT: A 68-year-old woman had uneventful cataract extraction by phacoemulsification with foldable posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation under topical anesthesia in the left eye. Four weeks later, the patient presented anterior uveitis treated by topical corticosteroids. Seven weeks later a posterior uveitis with retinal vasculitis appeared. The patient was treated by systemic and intravitreal corticosteroids without result. Due to the poor course pars plana vitrectomy was done, and a vitreous sample was taken. Microbiologic examination disclosed Hafnia alvei, gram-negative bacteria rarely isolated from human specimens.
CONCLUSIONS: Hafnia alvei should be considered in the etiology of delayed-onset endophthalmitis.