Endophthalmitis After Clear Corneal Cataract Surgery: Outcomes Over Two Decades

Abstract

Purpose: To report the clinical features, causative organisms, and visual acuity (VA) outcomes associated with acute-onset endophthalmitis after clear corneal cataract surgery over the past 2 decades.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Methods: Clinical and microbiology records were reviewed for 63 eyes of 63 patients who presented to a tertiary referral center between 2006 and 2015 with culture-positive endophthalmitis occurring within 6 weeks of clear corneal cataract surgery.

Results: The mean time between surgery and diagnosis of endophthalmitis was 8 days (median 6 days). The initial treatment included intravitreal vancomycin and ceftazidime in 59 of 63 (94%) eyes and intravitreal vancomycin and amikacin in 4 of 63 (6%) eyes. Intravitreal dexamethasone was used in 50 of 63 (79%) eyes. A vitreous tap and injection with antibiotics was performed as the initial treatment in 57 of 63 (90%) eyes and pars plana vitrectomy in 6 of 63 (10%) eyes. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was isolated in 39 of 63 (62%) eyes, Staphylococcus aureus in 7 of 63 (11%) eyes, and Streptococcus species in 7 of 63 (11%) eyes. A VA of ≥20/40 was achieved in 24 of 63 (38%) eyes. None of the gram-positive isolates were vancomycin resistant. Twenty-four of 49 isolates (49%) were sensitive to cephalothin, cefazolin, and cefuroxime. Sensitivity to fluoroquinolones included 22 of 52 (42%) to levofloxacin, 20 of 54 (37%) to ciprofloxacin, 16 of 47 (34%) to moxifloxacin, and 3 of 13 (23%) to gatifloxacin.

Conclusion: Causative organisms and visual outcomes are similar to those reported in the prior decade. In the current study, a number of isolates were resistant to cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones.