title: Endophthalmitis following cataract surgery in Sweden: national prospective survey 1999-2001.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the epidemiology of postoperative endophthalmitis (POE) following cataract surgery in Sweden during a 3-year period, using the framework of the Swedish National Cataract Register.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinically presumed cases of POE were reported in a prospective survey involving all Swedish ophthalmic surgical units except one. Data on results of the intraocular culture and visual outcome after infection, as well as patient age and gender and various elements of the surgical procedure, were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The nationwide incidence of POE was 0.0595%, representing 112 cases in 188 151 cataract operations. Gram-positive bacteria were the predominant aetiology, with an 84.6% share of culture-positive cases. A significantly decreased risk for POE was found for patients who had received prophylactic intracameral antibiotics (mainly cefuroxime) in comparison with those who had been treated with topical antibiotics only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of POE after cataract surgery in Sweden is at the lower end of the spectrum of incidence currently reported in the developed world. The administration of intracameral antibiotics may have contributed to these results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, St Erik's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wejde
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montan
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lundström
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Stenevi
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Thorburn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005123:Eye / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014792:Visual Acuity