Pseudomonas aeruginosa endophthalmitis caused by contamination of the internal fluid pathways of a phacoemulsifier.
OBJECTIVE
To report 4 cases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa endophthalmitis caused by internal contamination of the internal pathways of a phacoemulsifier.


METHODS
Ophthalmology Center, Perpignan, France.


METHODS
Four clinical cases of postoperative endophthalmitis occurred after phacoemulsification. An investigation was necessary to prove the cause of the bacteriological contamination.


RESULTS
Serotyping and ribotyping of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains obtained from the vitreous samples and from the phacoemulsifier showed that all these strains were identical and that the initial site of the contamination was the phacoemulsifier.


CONCLUSIONS
The profession should be cognizant of this cause of endophthalmitis, although its occurrence is rare. Cataract surgeons should test samples from the collection bags of their phacoemulsifiers to ensure there is no bacteriological contamination.
Zaluski
S
S
Ophthalmology Center 8, Perpignan, France.
Clayman
H M
HM
Karsenti
G
G
Bourzeix
S
S
Tournemire
A
A
Faliu
B
B
Gulian
C
C
Grimont
F
F
D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000382:microbiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D012329:RNA, Bacterial