[Clinical features of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery evaluated by the presence of background factors].
OBJECTIVE
The clinical features and visual prognosis after vitrectomy for endophthalmitis which had developed after cataract surgery were compared in two groups with or without background factors, including malignant tumor, diabetes, oral steroid administration, collagen disease, dacryocystitis, and lid closure disturbance.


METHODS
Fifty-two patients (53 eyes) who underwent a vitrectomy for the treatment of endophthalmitis which had developed within 6 weeks after cataract surgery. They were divided into two groups according to the presence (21 eyes, group A) or absence (32 eyes, group B) of background factors, and were retrospectively compared based on their medical records.


RESULTS
The culture-positive rate was 62% in group A and 69% in group B. The incidence of a final visual acuity of more than 20/20 was significantly lower in group A (14%) than in group B (47%, p < 0.05). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus and Enterococcus were frequently identified in group A. Leakage from the cataract wound was found in about 80% of the patients with corneal incisions, and a wound that had not been covered by the conjunctiva was significantly more frequent as a factor in group A (group A, 13 eyes; group B, 10 eyes; p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative endophthalmitis may have a less favorable visual prognosis in patients with background factors, so precise wound construction during cataract surgery is important in these patients.
Ninomiya
Yuko
Y
Department of Ophthalmology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. ninomiya@eye-center.org
Hirakata
Akito
A
Hiraoka
Tomoyuki
T
Kunita
Daisuke
D
Inoue
Makoto
M
Oshitari
Kazuhiro
K
Sugitani
Atsuhiko
A
Futagami
Sou
S
Miki
Daijiro
D
Hida
Tetsuo
T
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D003095:Collagen Diseases; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones