Postcataract endophthalmitis: incidence and microbial isolates in a United Kingdom region from 1996 through 2004.

PURPOSE: To investigate the incidence of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery, analyze the microbiologic spectrum of infecting organisms, and assess the diagnostic utility of an anterior chamber paracentesis and vitreous biopsy.

SETTING

United Kingdom tertiary referral center used by 13 operating suites.

METHODS

A retrospective noncomparative consecutive series comprised 105 postcataract endophthalmitis cases.

RESULTS

The annual mean incidence of endophthalmitis over the study period was 0.099% (101/101 920) [corrected] and there was no significant increase in the incidence during the study. The culture-positive rate was 58.1% (61/105). Gram-positive microbes were isolated in 93.4% of cases (57/61), with coagulase-negative staphylococci accounting for 62.3% (38/61). Anterior chamber taps yielded positive cultures in 25.7% of cases, and vitreous biopsy was positive in 53.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of endophthalmitis in this region of the United Kingdom remained stable, with gram-positive microbes accounting for 93.4% of the isolates. A combination of anterior chamber tap and vitreous biopsy should be performed in suspected cases of endophthalmitis.