Objective: To determine rates and factors associated with endophthalmitis following cataract surgeries in Songklanagarind Hospital.
Material and Methods: The records of patients with endophthalmitis following cataract surgeries in Songklanagarind Hospital from January, 1998 to December, 2002 were reviewed to evaluate rates and factors associated with the disease.
Results: There were 17 cases of post-operative endophthalmitis in Songklanagarind Hospital and 12 patients (70%) had endophthalmitis following cataract surgeries. The rate of total post-operative endophthalmitis was 0.25% whereas the rate of endophthalmitis following cataract surgeries was 0.31%. The average age of the patients was 72.4 years (range 61-85 years). Eight patients had underlying systemic diseases and most had diabetes mellitus (3 patients, 25%). The duration of the disease was 44.8 days (range 2-228 days). Three cases had intraoperative complications, all were posterior capsule rupture with vitreous loss. However, there were no post-operative complications following cataract surgeries in all cases. The patients were treated by 2 procedures, pars plana vitrectomy with intravitreal antibiotic injection in 5 cases (42%) and intravitreal antibiotic injection in 7 cases (58%). Three cases had a positive culture which were Staphylococcus epidermidis in all samples. The final visual acuity was improved in 58.3% of cases, not changed in 16.7%, and worse in 25%.
Conclusion: The rate of endophthalmitis following cataract surgeries in Songklanagarind Hospital was 0.31% which is relatively high compared with other reports. The factors assumed to be associated with endophthalmitis were diabetes mellitus and posterior capsule rupture with vitreous loss. Therefore, improved diabetic control and a decrease on intraoperative complication rates may improve the incidence of endophthalmitis following cataract surgeries in the hospital.