An outbreak of postoperative gram-negative bacterial endophthalmitis associated with contaminated trypan blue ophthalmic solution

Abstract

We report 6 cases of postsurgical endophthalmitis due to gram-negative bacteria associated with contaminated trypan blue dye from a compounding pharmacy. Unopened trypan blue syringes yielded Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia complex on culture, with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns indistinguishable from patient isolates. Contamination of compounded medications should be considered when investigating outbreaks of postoperative endophthalmitis.