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Outbreak of Endophthalmitis After Cataract Surgery: The Importance of the Quality of the Surgical Wound

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Stéphane Hugonnet
Affiliation:
Infection Control Program, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
André Dosso
Affiliation:
Ophtalmology Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Dermatology, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
Sasi Dharan
Affiliation:
Infection Control Program, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
Yves Martin
Affiliation:
Infection Control Program, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
Maria-Luisa Herrero
Affiliation:
Infection Control Program, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
Carole Régnier
Affiliation:
Ophtalmology Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Dermatology, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
Didier Pittet*
Affiliation:
Infection Control Program, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
*
Infection Control Program, University of Geneva Hospitals, 24 Rue Micheli-du-Crest, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland (didier.pittet@hcuge.ch)

Abstract

Postoperative endophthalmitis is a rare but potentially devastating condition. We investigated an outbreak of 8 cases of endophthalmitis in patients who underwent phakectomy performed by a single surgeon from January through September 2004. The outbreak was traced to damaged surgical blades, and it highlights the importance of the quality of the surgical wound.

Type
Concise Communications
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2006

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