Uvea: Bacillus cereus endophthalmitis: practice question

A Ophthalmology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Ophthalmology · Uvea: Bacillus cereus endophthalmitis

Sample item

A farmer sustains a penetrating eye injury from a soil-contaminated object. Within 24 hours he has severe pain, rapidly falling vision, fever, leucocytosis and a ring abscess forming in the cornea. Which organism is the likely cause?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Bacillus cereus

Bacillus cereus is a classic cause of fulminant post-traumatic endophthalmitis after soil-contaminated injuries, with corneal ring abscess and systemic features within a day. Coagulase-negative staphylococci cause slower disease and Propionibacterium causes a delayed, indolent form.

Option by option

  • A. Candida albicans

    Candida causes a slow fungal infection that does not usually develop within 24 hours.

  • B. Propionibacterium acnes

    Propionibacterium acnes causes chronic, low-grade disease weeks to months after surgery.

  • C. Staphylococcus epidermidis

    Staphylococcus epidermidis causes a milder, slower postoperative infection.

  • D. Bacillus cereus (correct)

    Correct. A soil injury with explosive endophthalmitis and ring abscess points to Bacillus cereus.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Ophthalmology question

What is the answer to this Ophthalmology question?

The best answer is D, Bacillus cereus. Bacillus cereus is a classic cause of fulminant post-traumatic endophthalmitis after soil-contaminated injuries, with corneal ring abscess and systemic features within a day.

Why is "Candida albicans" not the answer?

Candida causes a slow fungal infection that does not usually develop within 24 hours.

Why is "Propionibacterium acnes" not the answer?

Propionibacterium acnes causes chronic, low-grade disease weeks to months after surgery.

Why is "Staphylococcus epidermidis" not the answer?

Staphylococcus epidermidis causes a milder, slower postoperative infection.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Uvea: Bacillus cereus endophthalmitis in Ophthalmology. Coagulase-negative staphylococci cause slower disease and Propionibacterium causes a delayed, indolent form.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Uvea: Bacillus cereus endophthalmitis?

Group the red eye by what to examine and what the pupil does. Then use the flashcards and the other Ophthalmology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.