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.