Abstract
Purpose: :
To document the spectrum and frequency of anaerobic bacteria from endophthalmitis cases over 20 years period.
Methods: :
From the Microbiology Laboratory Department records, all anaerobic bacterial cases of endophthalmitis (n = 1345), were reviewed between January 1, 1990 and June 30, 2010. Rates between anterior chamber (AC) and vitreous cavity (VC) were determined for four time frames: (1990-1994, 1995-1999, 2000-2004, 2005-6/30/2010).
Results: :
Anaerobic bacteria accounted for 113 of 1345 (8.4%) in VC culture-positive endophthalmitis isolates from 1990 to 2010. This frequency slightly fluctuated during the four time intervals as follow: 1990-1994: 10.6%, 1995-1999: 6.6%, 2000-2004: 6.8%, 2005-2010: 9.4%. The most common bacteria for the VC isolates was Propionibacterium acnes (89.4%). Other etiologies included, Bacteroides species (5.3%), Peptostreptococcus species (2.6%), Propionibacterium granulosum (0.9%), Propionibacterium avidum (0.9%), and Clostridum subterminale (0.9%). AC positive isolates yielded a similar overall rate of 40 of 486 (8.2%). The frequency during the four time intervals were as follow: 1990-1994: 8.0%, 1995-1999: 10.1%, 2000-2004: 9.1%, 2005-2010: 4.6%. The most common bacteria for the AC isolates was Propionibacterium acnes (92.5%) followed by Propionibacterium granulosum (5.0%), and Clostridium subterminale (2.5%).
Conclusions: :
In the current study, anaerobic bacteria account for less than 10% of culture positive endophthalmitis. The most common etiology was Propionibacterium acnes. The rate of positive VC and AC isolates were similar during the different time intervals.
Keywords: endophthalmitis • vitreous • bacterial disease