Achromobacter xylosoxidans Endophthalmitis Diagnosed by Polymerase Chain Reaction and Gene Sequencing

Purpose: To report a patient with Achromobacter xylosoxidansendophthalmitis that was diagnosed using polymerase chain reaction and gene sequencing. Methods: Case report. A patient with culture-negative endophthalmitis underwent an anterior chamber tap. Polymerase chain reaction was performed on the aqueous sample using the 16S ribosomal DNA primer set to detect and amplify bacterial DNA. The amplified DNA was sequenced and compared to archived sequences in a gene library using the BLAST search program. Results: A 214-base pair gene sequence was amplified and matched with the gene sequence for A. xylosoxidans. Antimicrobial treatment was instituted with resolution of hypopyon, anterior chamber cells, and vitreous cells one month after treatment. Conclusions: Polymerase chain reaction of 16S rDNA combined with gene sequencing may be an alternative method of diagnosing culture-negative bacterial endophthalmitis.