Candidal Retinitis in a Gynecologic Patient

[摘要] Background:Candidal retinitis is a rare but potentially devastating infection in the postoperativepatient. Due to the possibility of blindness if the diagnosis and treatment are delayed, we present thisreport to help educate gynecologic surgeons.Case:A postmenopausal patient presented for the treatment of ovarian carcinoma. Her surgicaltherapy required radical tumor debulking with partial bowel resection. The patient was begun onintravenous (IV) hyperalimentation through a central venous catheter. On the 7th postoperativeday, a cephalosporin antibiotic was administered. Because of persistent fever, a septic workup wasinstituted and revealed an infected central venous catheter that was culture positive forCandidaalbicans. The patient complained of visual disturbances and an ophthalmological examination revealedcandidal retinitis. Amphotericin B and fluconazole were administered with resolution of herfever and visual changes.Conclusion:The risk factors of malignancy, abdominopelvic surgery, antibiotic therapy, and IVcatheters are discussed. In view of the common association of these iatrogenic factors in gynecologicand obstetrical practice, we present this case to help make physicians aware of this potentiallydevastating infection.

[学科分类] 妇产科学