Abstract
Purpose: :
To identify the risk factors, microbes, treatment modalities, and outcomes of patients with endophthalmitis associated with Baerveldt Glaucoma Drainage Devices (GDDs).
Methods: :
A non-comparative consecutive case series of patients at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute diagnosed with endophthalmitis associated with Baerveldt GDDs between January 1, 1999 and July 31, 2011 was done.
Results: :
9 patients were identified. The average time elapsed from GDD surgery to endophthalmitis was 20 months with a range of 1 week to 4 years. 2 patients grew Staphylococcus epidermidis. 2 patients grew Staphylococcus aureus. 2 patients grew Serratia marcescens. 1 patient grew Streptococcus sanguis. 1 patient grew both Proteus mirabilis and Staphylococcus warneri. 1 patient grew both Staphylococcus epidermidis and Mycobacterium fortuitum. All patients were injected with intravitreal vancomycin and ceftazidime at the time of infection. 5 of 9 patients had tube exposure. 2 patients underwent evisceration. 3 patients underwent tube removal. Median pre-infection visual acuity was 20/100 with a range of 20/50 to HM. Median post-infection visual acuity was 20/400 with a range of 20/60 to NLP. Average loss of vision was 3.4 lines with one patient progressing to LP and two patients to NLP.
Conclusions: :
Endophthalmitis associated with Baerveldt GDDs is uncommon. In the current study, tube exposure was a common risk factor for endophthalmitis. Infections were caused by a broad spectrum of microbes. Visual outcomes were generally poor.
Keywords: endophthalmitis