Acute bacterial endophthalmitis after cataract extraction: results of treatment

In order to evaluate the results, we reviewed all 34 patients treated in our hospital for endophthalmitis after cataract surgery between January 1994 and January 1998. After cultures were taken, all patients received intraocular, subconjunctival and topical vancomycin and ceftazidime. Additionally, twelve patients received the same antibiotics systemically. Besides steroids were administered in all patients. In 79% of the patients the bacterial culture was positive. Coagulase negative Staphylococcus was the most frequently isolated microorganism (48%). After treatment a visual acuity of 0.1 or more was achieved in 62% of the patients. The best final results were achieved in the patients with an initial visual acuity of 1/300 or more, and in the patients from whom a coagulase negative Staphylococcus was isolated.