A cluster of endophthalmitis caused by Mycobacterium abscessus after cataract surgery

Abstract

We report two cases of postoperative endophthalmitis after cataract surgery caused by the same strain of Mycobacterium abscessus confirmed by arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction, sequencing of the erythromycin ribosome methyltransferase gene and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The outcomes were poor despite aggressive treatments. This is the first report of nontuberculous mycobacteria as a causative pathogen for a cluster of endophthalmitis.