Nosocomial postoperative endophthalmitis: a 14-year review.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence, predisposing surgery, management and final visual outcome of postoperative endophthalmitis over a 14-year period at one institute.


METHODS
This retrospective study reviewed all intraocular operations performed between 1 January 1991 and 31 August 2004 at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, to determine the incidence of nosocomial postoperative endophthalmitis and the characteristics of patients who developed this condition.


RESULTS
The overall incidence of postoperative endophthalmitis after intraocular surgery was 0.19% (56 out of 30,219). Postoperative endophthalmitis developed in 56 eyes in 56 patients during the study period. The condition developed after cataract surgery in 46 eyes, after penetrating keratoplasty in 6 eyes, after filtering surgery in 2 eyes, after secondary intraocular lens implant in 1 eye, and after vitrectomy in 1 eye. Postoperative endophthalmitis was culture-positive in 31 cases (55%). The most frequent organism isolated was coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Factors associated with better visual acuity outcomes included low virulence of isolated pathogen, initial visual acuity of counting fingers or better, and history of cataract surgery compared with other intraocular surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall incidence of endophthalmitis after intraocular surgery was 0.19%. The results of this 14-year review from a local medical center may serve as a source of comparison for other centers and future studies.
Wu
Pei-Chang
PC
Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 123, Ta-Pei Road, Niao-Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung Hsien, 883, Taiwan.
Kuo
Hsi-Kung
HK
Li
Mien
M
Lai
Ing-Chou
IC
Fang
Po-Chiung
PC
Lin
Sue-Ann
SA
Shin
Shyi-Jang
SJ
Chen
Yung-Jen
YJ
Teng
Mei-Ching
MC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D018463:Filtering Surgery; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents