Postoperative Endophthalmitis Following Cataract Surgery Over an Eight-Year Period

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To estimate the annual incidence rate, evaluate any changes, analyze the microbiologic spectrum of infecting organisms, antibiotic susceptibility, and factors associated with visual outcomes of postoperative endophthalmitis following cataract surgery over an 8-year period. METHODS: A retrospective investigation of direction, sex, age, culture results, interval duration, and initial visual acuity of 29 patients with endophthalmitis following cataract surgery was conducted from January 2000 to December 2007. The study was divided into two 4-year periods, with patients categorized into either Group 1 or 2. RESULTS: The incidence rate was 0.359%, the major infective organism was Staphylococcus epidermidis, and no significant change was observed during the 8-year period. Vancomycin retained efficacy in all cases, but increased resistance occurred with ciprofloxacin during the 8 years. Increased visual acuity after treatment was greater in Group 2 and the interval from onset of ocular symptoms to ophthalmic consultation was shorter in Group 2, although a statistical significance was not demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: Vancomycin remains effective for patients with endophthalmitis following cataract surgery. Patients who initially had good visual acuity showed greater improvement. However, sex, age, or whether or not the patients had a vitrectomy operation, were not statistically significant factors in the improvement of visual acuity.