Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T06:02:18.279Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

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

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Miller, JJ, Scott, IU, Flynn, HW Jr, Smiddy, WE, Newton, J, Miller, D. Acute-onset endophthalmitis after cataract surgery (2000-2004): incidence, clinical settings, and visual acuity outcomes after treatment. Am J Ophthalmol 2005; 139:983987.Google Scholar
2. Li, J, Morlet, N, Ng, JQ, Semmens, JB, Knuiman, MW. Significant nonsurgical risk factors for endophthalmitis after cataract surgery: EPSWA fourth report. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2004; 45:13211328.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3. Hanscom, TA. Postoperative endophthalmitis. Clin Infect Dis 2004; 38:542546.Google Scholar
4. Kresloff, MS, Castellarin, AA, Zarbin, MA. Endophthalmitis. Surv Ophthalmol 1998; 43:193224.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5. Olson, RJ. Reducing the risk of postoperative endophthalmitis. Surv Ophthalmol 2004; 49(Suppl 2):S55S61.Google Scholar
6. Cruciani, M, Malena, M, Amalfitano, G, Monti, P, Bonomi, L. Molecular epidemiology in a cluster of cases of postoperative Pseudomonas aeruginosa endophthalmitis. Clin Infect Dis 1998; 26:330333.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7. Hoffmann, KK, Weber, DJ, Gergen, MF, Rutala, WA, Tate, G. Pseudomonas aeruginosa-related postoperative endophthalmitis linked to a contaminated phacoemulsifier. Arch Ophthalmol 2002; 120:9093.Google Scholar
8. Outbreaks of postoperative bacterial endophthalmitis caused by intrinsically contaminated ophthalmic solutions—Thailand, 1992, and Canada, 1993. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1996; 45:491494.Google Scholar
9. Pettit, TH, Olson, RJ, Foos, RY, Martin, WJ. Fungal endophthalmitis following intraocular lens implantation: a surgical epidemic. Arch Ophthalmol 1980; 98:10251039.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10. Tabbara, KF, al Jabarti, AL. Hospital construction-associated outbreak of ocular aspergillosis after cataract surgery. Ophthalmology 1998; 105:522526.Google Scholar
11. Fridkin, SK, Kremer, FB, Bland, LA, Padhye, A, McNeil, MM, larvis, WR. Acremonium kiliense endophthalmitis that occurred after cataract extraction in an ambulatory surgical center and was traced to an environmental reservoir. Clin Infect Dis 1996; 22:222227.Google Scholar
12. Mandal, K, Hildreth, A, Farrow, M, Allen, D. Investigation into postoperative endophthalmitis and lessons learned. J Cataract Refract Surg 2004; 30:19601965.Google Scholar