We retrospectively reviewed literature reports on pathogens, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and clinical and visual outcomes in patients with bacterial
scleritis over the past decade. Eye surgery and
trauma are the most common causes of
bacterial infections. Subtenon
triamcinolone acetonide injection, intravitreal ranibizumab, and wearing
contact lenses are also causes of bacterial
scleritis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common pathogenic microorganism causing bacterial
scleritis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis ranks second. The main symptoms of bacterial
scleritis are red and painful eyes. The patient's visual acuity decreased significantly. Bacterial
scleritis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa often manifests as
necrotizing scleritis, tuberculous
scleritis and syphilitic
scleritis are mostly nodular
scleritis. Bacterial
scleritis often involves the cornea, and approximately 37.6% (32 eyes) of patients had corneal
bacterial infection.
Hyphema was present in 18.8% (16 eyes). Elevated intraocular pressure was observed in 36.5% (31 eyes) of patients. Bacterial culture was an effective method of diagnosis. Most bacterial
scleritis cases require both aggressive medical and surgical treatment, and the
drug choice must be based on
antibiotic susceptibility testing.