[Post-traumatic endophthalmitis after penetrating eye injuries. Risk factors, microbiological diagnosis and functional outcome].
BACKGROUND
Endophthalmitis associated with penetrating injury represents a distinct kind of intraocular infection. The preceding trauma, infective agents and inflammatory changes determine the functional outcome.


METHODS
In a retrospective study, 18 patients with endophthalmitis were investigated and compared to a control group of 54 patients with penetrating ocular trauma. A number of clinical variables were evaluated for association with an increased risk of endophthalmitis.


RESULTS
Risk factors found to be significant were: (1) a purely corneal wound, (2) surgical primary repair more than 24 h after injury and (3) initiation of intravenous antibiotic therapy later than 24 h after trauma. A two-fold increased relative risk was related to the presence of an intraocular foreign body, lens injury and a wound length less than 5 mm. Direct inoculation of surgical specimens and immediate microbiological processing succeeded in the presumptive identification of infective agents with preliminary therapeutic recommendations in 72% of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
In "risk eyes" particular attention should be paid to prophylaxis and signs of infection.
Schmidseder
E
E
Augenklinik, Klinikum Innenstadt der LMU München.
Miño de Kaspar
H
H
Klauss
V
V
Kampik
A
A
D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005129:Eye Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*
Posttraumatische Endophthalmitis nach penetrierenden Augenverletzungen. Risikofaktoren, mikrobiologische Diagnostik und funktionelle Ergebnisse.