The Isolates in Endophthalmitis Cases Following Cataract Surgeries

Purpose: To investigate the isolates of endophthalmitis cases following cataract surgeries in a single institute. Methods: Twenty eyes of 20 patients who had the diagnosis of endophthalmitis following cataract surgeries in Beyoglu Eye Training and Research Hospital were included to the study. Mean age was 68.6 +/- 11.8 years (40-82) and 12 of them (60%) were male and 8 of them (40%) were female. Vitreous samples were sent to the laboratory for microbiological analysis in the syringe without inoculating (1 case) or after inoculation into blood culture bottles (19 cases). Results: While 16 of 19 (84.2%) blood culture bottles yielded positive, 3 of 19 remained sterile. The sample which was sent in the syringe remained sterile. Overall, 11 of 18 (61%) isolates were gram positive cocci, 7 isolates (39%) were gram-negative organisms. Two specimens yielded mixed flora (2 bacteria each). The most frequently isolated bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus (5 in 18) and Pseudomonas aureginosa (5 in 18). Conclusion: Culturing vitreous specimens with blood culture bottles may be an alternative to conventional culture media with a high yield positive rate especially in clinics which are unable to have adequate microbiology laboratory facilities. Although gram positive organisms were the most common pathogens in our series, gram negative agents were more frequent than in the literature. We think that breaks in the sterilization chain occurs more frequently in our country and this issue should be adressed more carefully.