Sequential endogenous endophthalmitis, fungal keratitis, bacteremia and vertebral osteomyelitis in a person who injects drugs.

purposeTo describe multiple ocular (and non-ocular) manifestations of disease that can present in a person who injects drugs (PWID). We report a case of a patient consecutively presenting across multiple visits to an ambulatory eye care clinic as the initial point of contact for endogenous endophthalmitis, fungal keratitis, bacteremia, and psoas abscess with vertebral osteomyelitis within a matter of weeks. OBSERVATIONS: A 51-year-old male with past medical history of alcohol use disorder and injection drug use was initially seen in an eye clinic three days after suffering vision loss in the left eye associated with floaters, photophobia, and eye pain. After initial workup and treatment for panuveitis, endogenous endophthalmitis was suspected. A pars plana vitrectomy was performed, and intravitreal medications were given. A pathogen was never isolated from vitreous samples. Two weeks later, the patient presented with complaints of pain, blurry vision, and foreign body sensation in his opposite (right) eye. Examination revealed a corneal ulcer later identified as a CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: Injection drug use is an increasingly common concern for all healthcare providers as the opioid crisis in the United States remains widespread. This case highlights multiple potential infectious processes which may impact persons who inject drugs when seen by eye care providers. It also describes difficulties in caring for people who inject drugs who may not provide critical and timely information relating to their injection drug use and/or may delay care even when faced with potentially vision- and/or life-threatening conditions.