title: Chronic postoperative endophthalmitis associated with Actinomyces species.
abstract: Actinomyces species, gram-positive, non-spore-forming anaerobic bacilli were isolated from intraocular fluid obtained from four otherwise healthy patients with a delayed onset of postoperative endophthalmitis. One patient had a mixed anaerobic infection with recovery of both Actinomyces israelii and Propionibacterium acnes. In all four patients, early postoperative visual acuity was good but was eventually markedly reduced by intraocular inflammation that was first observed between 21 days and 4 months following uneventful extracapsular cataract extraction and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. Inflammation was characterized by anterior segment and vitreous cellular debris in all cases. All eyes responded to therapy that included intraocular, topical, and systemic antibiotics as well as pars plana vitrectomy and partial iridectomy. These cases further illustrate the need for microbiologic investigation, including anaerobic cultures, in all cases of chronic postoperative inflammation following extracapsular cataract extraction, regardless of the time of onset.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Fla.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Roussel
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meisler
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000190:Actinomyces / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011424:Propionibacterium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents