Hypopyon and pseudoendophthalmitis associated with chronic vitreous hemorrhage.

Infectious endophthalmitis is an uncommon but potentially devastating eye disease. Although the presence of a hypopyon is considered one of the hallmark clinical signs of infectious endophthalmitis, hypopyon associated with non-infectious causes may occur. Two patients with hypopyon and pseudoendophthalmitis secondary to chronic vitreous hemorrhage are described. In both cases, the hypopyon improved without the use of intravitreal antibiotics.     

白内障术后急性眼内炎

目的 :探讨白内障术后急性眼内炎的临床特点及治疗方法。方法 :回顾性分析 4例 (5眼 )白内障术后急性眼内炎的治疗经过及病原学特点。结果 :5眼白内障术后急性眼内炎经玻璃体切割术及玻璃体腔注药后 ,并辅以全身及局部抗菌素治疗 ,眼内炎症得到控制 ,5眼最后视力得到不同程度改善 ,细菌培养为表皮萄葡球菌 3眼 ,金黄色萄葡球菌 1眼 ,施氏假单胞菌 1眼 ,这些细菌均对万古霉素、妥布霉素、庆大霉素及头孢他定 (复达欣 )敏感。结论 :白内障术后眼内炎是白内障手术的严重并发症 ,玻璃体切割术联合玻璃体腔内注药是一种有效的治疗方法。     

Intravitreal dexamethasone as adjuvant in the treatment of postoperative endophthalmitis: a prospective randomized trial

Purpose To study whether intravitreal dexamethasone as adjuvant to intravitreal antibiotics improves the outcome in patients with suspected postoperative bacterial endophthalmitis. Design Prospective randomized clinical trial. Setting Tertiary referral center. Patient population Twenty-nine consecutive patients with suspected postoperative bacterial endophthalmitis within 6 weeks of cataract surgery. Intervention Patients underwent a vitreous biopsy followed by intravitreal injection of antibiotics (0.2 mg vancomycin and 0.05 mg gentamicin) and 400 μg dexamethasone or placebo. After 3–4 days the intravitreal injection of antibiotics and dexamethasone or placebo was repeated Primary outcome measure Snellen visual acuity at 3 and 12 months after treatment. Results In 20/29 patients (69%) the vitreous cultures were positive. 13/29 patients received dexamethasone. Seven patients had a functionally lost eye (final vision of hand movements or less), in four due to retinal detachment. Visual acuity tended to be better in the dexamethasone treated patients than in those given placebo, at both 3 months (P=0.055) and 12 months (P=0.080). Conclusion This small prospective, placebo-controlled series showed a trend towards a better visual outcome in patients with suspected bacterial endophthalmitis when treatment with intravitreal antibiotics was combined with intravitreal dexamethasone. Our findings justify a larger multicenter randomized study.     

RESULTS IN THE TREATMENT OF BACTERIAL ENDOPHTHALMITIS

Fifteen cases of confirmed and clinically suspected bacterial endophthalmitis seen at the Vitreous Clinic of Sydney Eye Hospital in the three-year period from July 1981 to July 1984 are reviewed.
The predisposing factors are summarized; two cases followed secondary implantation of an intraocular lens and one case followed removal of sutures from a cataract section. All but one of the patients had been given topical, subconjunctival or systemic antibiotics prior to surgery. All but two of the patients had vitreous biopsies performed, and all of these patients in turn received intravitreal antibiotics, usually gentamicin and cephalothin.
Positive cultures were obtained in nine cases (69%), including the two cases who had not received antibiotics prior to vitreous biopsy.
Final visual acuities ranged from 6/6 to no perception of light (NPL). Delay of more than 36 hours between the onset of severe symptoms and intravitreal antibiotic treatment was associated with a poor visual outcome.     

Results in the treatment of bacterial endophthalmitis

Fifteen cases of confirmed and clinically suspected bacterial endophthalmitis seen at the Vitreous Clinic of Sydney Eye Hospital in the three-year period from July 1981 to July 1984 are reviewed. The predisposing factors are summarized; two cases followed secondary implantation of an intraocular lens and one case followed removal of sutures from a cataract section. All but one of the patients had been given topical, subconjunctival or systemic antibiotics prior to surgery. All but two of the patients had vitreous biopsies performed, and all of these patients in turn received intravitreal antibiotics, usually gentamicin and cephalothin. Positive cultures were obtained in nine cases (69%), including the two cases who had not received antibiotics prior to vitreous biopsy. Final visual acuities ranged from 6/6 to no perception of light (NPL). Delay of more than 36 hours between the onset of severe symptoms and intravitreal antibiotic treatment was associated with a poor visual outcome.     

Characteristics after cataract extraction or secondary lens implantation among patients screened for the Endophthalmitis Vitrectomy Study

PURPOSE: This report describes the presenting clinical ophthalmic features and historical findings in patients with a clinical diagnosis of endophthalmitis after cataract extraction or secondary lens implant surgery screened for enrollment in the Endophthalmitis Vitrectomy Study (EVS). DESIGN: Clinic-based, cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Eight hundred fifty-four patients suspected to have endophthalmitis after cataract extraction or secondary lens implantation. METHODS: As part of the screening process for the study, an eye examination, a medical history, and demographic data were recorded in standardized form for all patients with endophthalmitis after cataract extraction or secondary lens implant surgery referred to the clinical centers, regardless of whether the patient met entry criteria. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographics, presenting signs, and symptoms. RESULTS: The median age of individuals presenting with suspected bacterial endophthalmitis was 75 years (range, 9-100 years). Most of those screened (57.7%) were women. Seventy-nine percent of patients sought treatment within 6 weeks of surgery. Blurred vision, conjunctival injection, pain, and lid swelling were the predominant presenting symptoms in order of prevalence. Ocular pain and hypopyon, widely regarded as diagnostic of endophthalmitis, were each absent in 25% of patients. The median hypopyon height, when present, was 1.5 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The classic presentation of postoperative endophthalmitis includes reduced vision, conjunctival hyperemia, pain, hypopyon, and lid swelling within days after cataract surgery or secondary lens implantation. These were the prominent clinical findings in the EVS as well. Because pain and hypopyon, although common, were not always present, clinicians must be vigilant in postsurgical monitoring of patients.     

白内障摘出人工晶状体植入后眼内炎临床分析

目的探讨白内障术后眼内炎的发病原因及手术效果。方法回顾性分析2000年1月~2004年8月收治的白内障摘出联合人工晶状体植入术后眼内炎5例(5眼),其中3例为糖尿病。5例均行细菌培养及药敏实验,根据病情4例行玻璃体切除联合玻璃体腔抗生素注射,1例单纯玻璃体腔注药。结果本组5例中4例眼内炎细菌培养呈阳性:2例为表皮葡萄球菌,1例粪肠球菌,1例醋酸钙不动杆菌。5例眼内炎均得到控制,除1例外,4例恢复良好视功能。结论糖尿病患者白内障术后感染性眼内炎的发生机率较大,积极采取玻璃体切除联合玻璃体腔注药对恢复有用视力是必要的。白内障术后急性眼内炎预后较差。     

内源性眼内炎的临床特征及治疗

目的：探讨内源性眼内炎的临床特征及治疗。方法：对2005/2011年所收治的内源性眼内炎患者8例进行常规眼科检查,取前房水及玻璃体标本涂片和培养,血培养。给予局部及全身抗菌药物治疗,行玻璃体注药或（和）玻璃体切割术。观察病变特点及治疗效果。结果：患者8例9眼中男6例7眼,女2例2眼,年龄45～78岁。患者可有前葡萄膜炎症表现,玻璃体炎性改变,5例患者病原菌培养阳性,3眼行玻璃体腔注射,6眼行玻璃体切割手术。经治疗,患者病情控制,6眼视力提高。结论：内源性眼内炎根据病史、危险因素、临床表现以及实验室检查等综合进行诊断。局部＋全身治疗可有效控制感染。     

Bacterial endophthalmitis after suture removal.

We present 3 cases of endophthalmitis following suture removal after cataract surgery. In all cases, prophylactic antibiotics had been used. Treatment included vitreous tap and intravitreal antibiotic injection, with only 1 of the 3 patients regaining good visual acuity. Because povidone-iodine 5% is more effective at decreasing conjunctival bacterial counts than topical antibiotics, we recommend this method of conjunctival preparation before suture removal.     

Endophthalmitis and pars plana vitrectomy

A review of all cases of suspected endophthalmitis following cataract extraction seen at one referral hospital between 1979 and 1983 was conducted. Of the 13 cases, 7 were proven by culture to be bacterial endophthalmitis when organisms were grown from aspirates of the aqueous, the vitreous or both. Antibiotic therapy was administered by intravitreal, periocular, topical and systemic routes. In some cases vitrectomy was performed immediately after the diagnostic aspiration or within 24 hours. Poor visual outcome was associated with a long interval between onset of symptoms and admission to hospital, expulsive hemorrhage, retinal detachment or resistance of the microorganism to the intraocularly administered antibiotic. The two eyes that yielded gentamicin-resistant Streptococcus viridans and ended up with no light perception demonstrate the need for simultaneous intravitreal injection of two antibiotics.     

Vitreous hemorrhage as the initial presentation of postoperative endophthalmitis

PURPOSE: To describe a patient with postoperative endophthalmitis whose only abnormal finding at presentation was a vitreous hemorrhage. DESIGN: Interventional case report. METHODS: A 68-year-old diabetic woman underwent cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation in the left eye. Three days after surgery, she had painless loss of vision, minimal anterior chamber inflammation, and dense vitreous hemorrhage in the left eye. RESULTS: On the fourth postoperative day, significant anterior chamber inflammation developed with fibrin and a hypopyon. During vitrectomy with intravitreal antibiotic injection, an area of retinitis surrounding an eroded retinal blood vessel was found. Cultures of undiluted vitreous fluid grew coagulase-negative Staphylococcus organisms. The endophthalmitis resolved and 20 months later, her best-corrected visual acuity had improved to 20/40. CONCLUSION: Postoperative endophthalmitis may present as a vitreous hemorrhage, secondary to retinitis and erosion of a retinal blood vessel.     

Effect of intravitreal dexamethasone on vitreous vancomycin concentrations in patients with suspected postoperative bacterial endophthalmitis

Purpose To study intravitreal dexamethasone and vancomycin concentrations, when used together in patients with suspected postoperative bacterial endophthalmitis. Animal studies had suggested that dexamethasone might decrease the concentration of vancomycin. Design Prospective randomized clinical trial in a tertiary referral center. Methods Twenty-nine consecutive patients with suspected postoperative bacterial endophthalmitis underwent a vitreous biopsy followed by intravitreal injection of antibiotics (0.2 mg vancomycin, 0.05 mg gentamicin) and 400 μg dexamethasone or placebo. After 3–4 days, the intravitreal injection of antibiotics and dexamethasone or placebo was repeated. In 18 patients, a second biopsy was taken for repeat culture and measurement of vancomycin and dexamethasone concentrations. Results In 20/29 patients (69%) the first vitreous cultures were positive; the second culture was negative in all cases. Thirteen out of 29 patients received dexamethasone. Dexamethasone concentrations showed an average of 25 ng/ml 3 days after injection, with an estimated half-life of 5.5 h. Vancomycin concentrations in patients given dexamethasone tended to be higher compared with those in the placebo group (P=0.061). Conclusion Intravitreal dexamethasone does not lead to decreased vancomycin concentrations, when given simultaneously in the treatment of patients with suspected bacterial endophthalmitis.     

Postoperative acute endophthalmitis: a prospective study. Clinical presentation, management and prognostic factors

AIMS: To assess the characteristics and visual outcome of patients with acute postoperative endophthalmitis hospitalized in a referral center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients suspected of having infectious endophthalmitis were included in this study. All patients were treated with the same protocol including at least intravitreal injection of antibiotics and instillation of fortified antibiotics. Symptoms, visual acuity, and slit lamp examination were recorded before treatment, at the end of hospitalization and during clinical follow-up. Treatments and biological results were also reported. For patients developing infectious endophthalmitis after cataract surgery, intraoperative management such as location of the incision, suture or sutureless incision, and material of the intraocular lens were also noted. RESULTS: Forty-one patients were included in the study over 32 months (33 patients after cataract surgery). Intraocular inflammation and a decrease in subjective visual acuity were the most frequently reported findings (90% and 94%, respectively). Ocular pain and conjunctiva injection were less frequently reported (47% and 48%, respectively). Symptoms occurred 5 days after the surgery (median); 56% of patients needed a second intravitreal injection of antibiotics. There was a significant increase in visual acuity during and after hospitalization; median final visual acuity was 4.6/10 (0.34 log MAR = 20/43); 30% of patients had less than 20/200, but 44% more than 20/40. In endophthalmitis following cataract surgery, incisions were corneal in all cases and sutured in 62% of cases. Incisions were temporal in 55% of patients. DISCUSSION: Our results are similar to those previously published for acute endophthalmitis following ocular surgery. Intravitreal antibiotic injection remains the gold standard on the management of acute postoperative endophthalmitis.     

Polymerase chain reaction identification in aqueous humor of patients with postoperative endophthalmitis

PURPOSE: To identify bacterial agents in the aqueous humor of patients with postoperative endophthalmitis using eubacterial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and conventional culture. SETTING: University Hospital of Lyon E. Herriot, Lyon, France. METHODS: Broad-range eubacterial PCR amplification followed by direct sequencing was used to identify microbial pathogens in ocular samples from 30 patients with acute or delayed-onset endophthalmitis, mainly after cataract surgery. Ocular samples included aqueous humor collected before the first intravitreal injection of antibiotics and vitreous samples collected at the time of the therapeutic pars plana vitrectomy. RESULTS: Cultures were positive in 32% of cases and PCR in 61% of cases with aqueous humor samples. When associated, culture and PCR of aqueous humor samples allowed for a microbiological diagnosis in 71% of cases. Microorganisms cultured by conventional techniques matched those identified by PCR. When applied on vitreous pretreated with intravitreal antibiotics, PCR increased the identification rate from 18% to 62%. CONCLUSIONS: Polymerase chain reaction assay of initial aqueous humor samples contributed to the diagnosis of endophthalmitis in 30% of cases. Previous use of intravitreal antibiotics did not seem to affect the ability to PCR-amplify DNA in the short term. Polymerase chain reaction-based technology was a useful adjunct to conventional culture because when used with aqueous humor samples only, the association of both techniques allowed for a microbiological diagnosis in 71% of cases of postoperative acute and delayed-onset endophthalmitis.     

Do we heed the endophthalmitis vitrectomy study in Canada?

BACKGROUND: The Endophthalmitis Vitrectomy Study (EVS) was a multicentre randomized clinical trial designed to guide the management of postoperative bacterial endophthalmitis. There is speculation that many physicians do not follow its recommendations, despite its intent. We surveyed Canadian vitreoretinal surgeons to determine whether surgeons are adopting the EVS recommendations in their management of bacterial endophthalmitis after cataract surgery. METHODS: A survey was sent to 98 vitreoretinal surgeons across Canada who manage postoperative endophthalmitis following cataract surgery. The survey explored the management of patients presenting with a hypopyon or suspected endophthalmitis, or both, early (up to 2 weeks) after cataract surgery. For purposes of comparison with the EVS, the questions were divided into presenting visual acuity categories. RESULTS: Of the 98 surgeons 30 (30.6%) responded to the survey. The preferred treatment for patients presenting with no light perception visual acuity was pars plana vitrectomy (23 respondents [76.7%]); 7 respondents (23.3%) preferred vitreous tap/biopsy. All but one of the respondents stated that they prefer pars plana vitrectomy for patients presenting with light perception vision; the remaining physician preferred either pars plana vitrectomy or vitreous tap/biopsy. For patients with hand motions visual acuity, 17 respondents (56.7%) would perform pars plana vitrectomy, 11 (36.7%) would perform vitreous tap/biopsy, and 2 (6.7%) would perform either procedure. Most of the respondents (20 [66.7%]) would perform vitreous tap/biopsy for patients with visual acuity of counting fingers, whereas 9 (30.0%) would perform pars plana vitrectomy, and 1 (3.3%) would perform either procedure. All the respondents indicated that they would use intraocular antibiotic therapy for initial treatment, 29 (96.7%) would use topical antibiotic therapy, 17 (56.7%) would inject antibiotics subconjunctivally, and 1 (3.3%) would use intravenous antibiotic therapy. Fourteen respondents (46.7%) would use intraocular steroid therapy. INTERPRETATION: Most of the Canadian vitreoretinal surgeons who responded to this survey do not follow the recommendations of the EVS.     

Endophthalmitis: Incidence,therapy and visual outcome in the period 1983–1992 in the Rotterdam Eye Hospital

From 1983 to 1992, 134 patients were treated for clinically suspected endophthalmitis. 61% of this endophthalmitis population consisted of cases that were referred to our clinic. In this nine year period antibiotic treatment was carried out according to three consecutively used guidelines. These three treatment schemes differed in antibiotic spectrum and mode of antibiotic delivery. In 68 patients we performed vitrectomy on account of clinical deterioration under antibiotic treatment. We did not find significant differences in visual outcome between the three treatment groups. The incidence of endophthalmitis following cataract or vitreous surgery did not change throughout the study period. There was however a dramatic decrease in incidence of post-traumatic endophthalmitis following the introduction of a profylactic antibiotic treatment scheme consisting of fortified gentamicin and cefazolin eyedrops, and intravenously and subconjunctivally administered gentamicin, cefazolin, and clindamycin. In 55 of 68 cases in which vitrectomy was performed in conjunction with intravitreal antibiotics, a vitreous or anterior chamber specimen was cultured. 36 patients had a positive culture result. In the group with positive culture result 42% had better visual acuity in the post-treatment period than before treatment. In the group with a sterile culture result 79% had better vision after treatment.     

Infectious and presumed noninfectious endophthalmitis after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection

PURPOSE: To report potentially distinguishing characteristics between bacterial endophthalmitis and presumed noninfectious endophthalmitis associated with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection. METHODS: Records of two patients with culture-proven bacterial endophthalmitis and six patients with presumed noninfectious endophthalmitis from intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injections were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Two eyes in two patients with culture-proven bacterial endophthalmitis had decreased vision and hypopyon or vitritis, but no pain or conjunctival injection 2 weeks after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection. Seven eyes in six patients with presumed noninfectious endophthalmitis had blurred vision, hypopyon, and variable pain all within 2 days of intravitreal triamcinolone injection. All seven eyes were followed up closely and had rapid resolution of hypopyon and symptoms. CONCLUSION: Bacterial endophthalmitis after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection may present in an atypical, relatively delayed manner with decreased vision but no pain or redness. Presumed noninfectious endophthalmitis presents within 2 days after the injection, may be accompanied by discomfort, and has a hypopyon that may be the triamcinolone material itself or a sterile inflammatory reaction. In these eyes, the hypopyon and symptoms quickly resolve without treatment.     

Sterile endophthalmitis after intravitreal triamcinolone: a possible association with uveitis

PURPOSE: To report an association between uveitis and sterile endophthalmitis after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all patients receiving intravitreal triamcinolone injection at the Cole Eye Institute from January 2006 through September 2006 was carried out to evaluate for the occurrence of bacterial or sterile endophthalmitis. Indication for treatment, ocular history, best-corrected Snellen visual acuity, and clinical examination findings were recorded from the clinical charts before injection and at last follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 310 eyes received intravitreal triamcinolone injection for various causes, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, vascular occlusion, and cystoid macular edema (CME) resulting from uveitis. There were no cases of culture-positive infectious endophthalmitis. There were six cases (1.9%) of sterile endophthalmitis. Of these six cases, four had prior history of uveitis, whereas only 20 of the 310 cases had a prior history of uveitis. All six patients sought treatment within three days of injection, and all recovered rapidly. Presenting visual acuity was either counting fingers or hand movements. Median best-corrected visual acuity before injection was 20/100(+), whereas median final visual acuity was 20/80(-). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a history of uveitis may be at increased risk of experiencing sterile endophthalmitis resulting from intravitreal triamcinolone injection.     

Factors influencing treatment results in pseudophakic endophthalmitis

PURPOSE: To evaluate risk factors, therapeutic approaches and factors associated with the poor visual outcome in pseudophakic endophthalmitis. METHODS: Data related to 28 cases with the diagnosis of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery and IOL implantation were gathered retrospectively. RESULTS: Preceding surgery was extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) in 18, phacoemulsification in 8 and scleral fixated intraocular lens implantation in two cases. Posterior capsule rupture and diabetes mellitus were considered to contribute to the development of endophthalmitis because of their high incidences (50% and 25%) in the study group. Microbiological studies from aqueous and vitreous humour were done in 85% of the cases and 58% were positive. S. Epidermidis was the most common organism, accounting for 50% of the isolates. All cases were given topical and systemic antibiotics. Inflammation was controlled by addition of subconjunctival antibiotics to this regimen in two, intravitreal antibiotic injection in 14, pars plana vitrectomy, total capsular and lens extraction and intravitreal antibiotic injection in three, lens exchange, intracapsular and intravitreal antibiotic injection in three cases. Six (21%) cases eventually needed evisceration. Visual acuity of 20/40 or better was achieved in 25%, and 20/100 or better in 64%. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment delay (p=0.039), capsular rupture complicating cataract surgery, especially with extracapsular cataract extraction (p=0.015), and initial visual acuity worse than hand motion (p=0.003) were strong predictors of poor visual outcome. The risk of endophthalmitis was not different forplanned ECCCE (0.26%) andphacoemulsification (0.27%) but the prognosis was better with the latter.     

Posttraumatic exogenous Nocardia endophthalmitis

PURPOSE: To report a case of posttraumatic exogenous Nocardia endophthalmitis. DESIGN: Interventional case report. METHOD: A 46-year-old man presented with counting fingers vision, severe eye pain, hypopyon, and an iris mass consistent with endophthalmitis following a penetrating injury to the left eye. RESULTS: Despite oral fluconazole and repeated intravitreal injections of vancomycin, gentamicin, and amphotericin B, the eye remained painful with a persistent hypopyon and recurrent iris masses. Cultures of the vitreous and iris masses remained negative for organisms. Despite vitrectomy and sector iridectomy of the iris mass with repeat injections of intravitreal antibiotics, the patient continued to have severe pain, poor vision, and developed new iris masses. Enucleation cultures confirmed Nocardia asteroides. CONCLUSIONS: Posttraumatic exogenous Nocardia endophthalmitis is extremely rare, and its clinical signs can mimic a fungal infection.