Endophthalmitis

Abstract

In 33 eyes suspected of harboring infectious endophthalmitis, samples for culture were taken by aspiration of the aqueous or vitreous or both, or by swabbing of open wounds. The same organism grew in two or more culture media in 14 cases; in five cases only one culture medium was positive; in 14 the cultures were negative. Three of the 14 eyes with positive cultures retained useful vision; all three yieldedStaphylococcus epidermidis. In two of these, antibiotics were given by intraocular injection. Only one of the 14 eyes with negative cultures lost useful vision.