**Bacterial Endophthalmitis**

S. Malhotra, S. Sharma, N. J. K. Bhatia, C. Hans and P. Kumar

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/61608

#### **Abstract**

Endophthalmitis is an ocular inflammation involving vitreous cavity along with the reti‐ nal and uveal components of the eye mostly due to infectious agent. The source of infec‐ tion could be exogenous or endogenous. Exogenous endophthalmitis results from direct inoculation as a complication of ocular surgery, foreign bodies or penetrating ocular trau‐ ma, while endogenous endophthalmitis results from haematogenous spread of organisms from a distant source of infection. Endophthalmitis often results in partial or complete loss of vision despite aggressive therapeutic and surgical intervention and hence it is con‐ sidered as a medical emergency. Diagnosis of infectious agent is critical in the manage‐ ment of these agents. Intravitreal antimicrobial therapy along with anti-inflammatory agents is the key ingredient for successful management of endophthalmitis, while surgi‐ cal procedures like vitrectomy become necessary in severe endophthalmitis cases. This is a brief review regarding classification, etiological agents causing endophthalmitis, diag‐ nosis and therapeutic challenges of endophthalmitis that will help in improving the visu‐ al outcome.

**Keywords:** Bacterial endophthalmitis, diagnosis, therapeutic challenge
