Abstract
Purpose: :
To report the clinical features, causative organisms, antibiotic sensitivities, and visual acuity outcomes in patients with delayed-onset bleb-associated endophthalmitis.
Methods: :
Retrospective consecutive case series. Patients who were treated at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute for delayed-onset bleb-associated endophthalmitis between January 1, 1996 through July 1, 2008 were included in this study.
Results: :
A total of 60 eyes with delayed-onset bleb-associated endophthalmitis were identified in this 12.5 year period. An anti-fibrotic agent (including 5-flurouracil or mitomycin-C) was used in 45 (75%) of the eyes. At presentation, 45 (75%) had evidence of a bleb leak. The most common causative organisms were Streptococcus species in 17 (28%) eyes and Staphylococcus species in 16 (27%) eyes. All gram-positive isolates were sensitive to vancomycin. Twelve (20%) eyes eventually underwent enucleation or evisceration secondary to pain and/or poor vision. Final visual acuities in the initial tap/inject group (n = 37) versus the initial vitrectomy group (n = 22) were as follows: ≥20/40 (19% versus 5%), 20/50 to 20/400 (49% versus 32%), and <5/200 (32% versus 64%).
Conclusions: :
In the current study, many patients had a history of receiving an anti-fibrotic agent during filtering surgery and at presentation showed a bleb leak. Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species were the most common causative organisms. Despite successful treatement of the infection, visual outcomes were generally poor.
Keywords: endophthalmitis • bacterial disease