Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus and 'Neighbourhood syndrome' -extra-orbitocranial rhinosinusitis with reversible sudden loss of vision- a case report.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Rhinosinusitis is a common condition which may present with complications commonly involving the orbit and the intracranial space. Loss of vision in the absence of clinical or radiological signs of involvement of the orbit and intracranium is rare and carries a high morbidity rate. Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus is not a well-documented cause of paranasal sinus infection.

CASE PRESENTATION:

We present a case of a 16 year old female patient who had unilateral loss of vision with signs of retrobulbar optic neuritis and no other neurological signs. We isolated an unusual organism- Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus from the maxillary sinus. Emergency endoscopic sinus surgery and antibiotic treatment resulted in complete reversal of the loss of vision.

CONCLUSION:

The presence of paranasal sinus disease in association with loss of vision even in the absence of a clear link between the two should be treated as an emergency with surgical drainage and or appropriate antibiotic therapy. In patients presenting with suspected inflammatory orbital involvement, imaging of the orbit and paranasal sinuses should be considered early.

• Authors: John Kutsukutsa, Nthabeleng Rankhethoa, Jaivani Sharvani Pillay, Johannes Frederik De Jager, Zaynah Dangor, Yesholata Mahabeer
• Journal: BMC ophthalmology (BMC Ophthalmol) Vol. 19 Issue 1 Pg. 117 (May 20 2019) ISSN: 1471-2415 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 31109307 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Blindness (etiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Rhinitis (microbiology)
• Sinusitis (microbiology)
• Streptococcal Infections (microbiology)
• Streptococcus equi (isolation & purification)