title: Bacterial endophthalmitis after resident-performed cataract surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if there is an increased rate of postoperative bacterial endophthalmitis after resident-performed cataract extraction relative to the reported rates of experienced surgeons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, observational case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  The operative reports of the resident-performed cataract surgeries at San Francisco General Hospital between 1983 and 2002 were reviewed. Cases of culture-positive bacterial endophthalmitis and vitreous loss were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 1983 and 2002, three cases (0.11%) of culture-positive bacterial endophthalmitis occurred after 2718 resident-performed cataract extractions. The overall vitreous loss rate was 6.7%. Two endophthalmitis cases were acute (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus viridans), presenting within five days of surgeries complicated by vitreous loss, and one case was delayed-onset (Corynebacterium species) after Nd:YAG posterior capsulotomy after uncomplicated cataract extraction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite higher rates of vitreous loss, the rate of endophthalmitis following resident-performed cataract surgery remains comparable with the rates of more experienced surgeons.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA. hollander@jsei.ucla.edu
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Hollander
authors: M Reza
authors: MR
authors: Vagefi
authors: Stuart R
authors: SR
authors: Seiff
authors: Jay M
authors: JM
authors: Stewart