title: Clinical features of bleb-related infection: a 5-year survey in Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present clinical features and microbial data for bleb-related infections obtained by the 5-year-long Japan Glaucoma Society Survey of Bleb-related Infection (JGSSBI).
  
  
  METHODS
  This multicentre prospective observational study was conducted in 82 clinical centres in Japan. A total of 170 bleb-related infections developed in 157 eyes of 156 patients during a 5-year period. The ophthalmological and microbial data were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient age at first infection was 59.3 ± 17.7 years [mean ± standard deviation (SD)], and the period between the last glaucoma surgery and the first infection was 6.9 ± 5.8 years (mean ± SD; range: 0.3-41 years). Bleb leakage was noted significantly more frequently in eyes with repeated infections. The stage of infection at diagnosis was stage I in 91 infections (54%), stage II in 30 infections (18%), stage IIIa in 18 infections (11%), and stage IIIb in 31 infections (18%). Staphylococcus species were the most frequently isolated microbe (41%), followed by Streptococcus species (32%). Streptococcus species, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, and Enterococcus species were the major bacteria isolated in the late-stage infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The JGSSBI project has revealed several characteristics of bleb-related infection in Japan, which include the significance of bleb leakage in the development of repeated infections and the distribution of bacterial isolates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, JapanDepartment of Ophthalmology, Osaka Koseinenkin Hospital, Osaka, JapanDepartment of Ophthalmology, Kitasato University Hospital, Sagamihara, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kuwayama
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kano
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shoji
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D018463:Filtering Surgery; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D014129:Trabecular Meshwork / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult