Purpose: To evaluate pathogenic bacteria and surgical outcome of vitrectomy for acute endophthalmitis after cataract surgery
Methods: Seventeen eyes in 17 patients (group A) who underwent vitrectomy from April 2008 to December 2015 in our department for infectious endophthalmitis that developed within 6 weeks after cataract surgery and 53 eyes in 52 patients (group B) from June 1992 to March 2006 were retrospectively reviewed.
Results: Culture of the specimen taken during vitrectomy was positive for pathogenic bacteria in six eyes (35%) in group A and 35 eyes (66%, p=0.03) in group B. Intravitreal injection of antibiotics was administered prior to vitrectomy in six eyes (35%) in group A and four eyes (8%) in group B (p=0.01). Among the patients administered intravitreal antibiotic injection, the culture was positive in one eye (17%) in group A and in two (50%) in group B. Mean visual acuities in logarithmic minimum angle of resolution before vitrectomy were 1.88 in group A and 1.99 in group B, with no significant difference. The durations from event onset to vitrectomy were significantly shorter in group A than in group B (p<0.01). Postoperative mean visual acuity was significantly better in group A than in group B (0.28 and 0.66, respectively, p=0.01).
Conclusion: More recent cases had higher rate of intravitreal antibiotic injection administration prior to vitrectomy, lower rate of positive culture taken during vitrectomy, shorter duration from event onset to vitrectomy, and better postoperative visual activity compared with cases treated >10 years ago.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc) 121: 749-754, 2017.