ENDOPHTHALMITIS FOLLOWING CATARACT SURGERY CONSIDERED TO BE DUE TO AN ORAL PATHOGEN

Abstract

We encountered a case of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery in which α-streptococcus was regarded as prophlogistic bacillus. Preoperatively, sterilization of the eyelid and conjunctival sac was performed. The surgical methods included temporal corneal incision and surgery was completed uneventfully. Eight days postoperatively, symptoms of endophthalmitis appeared; vitrectomy and IOL extraction were performed the following day but retinal function was damaged, so the best visual acuity remained 0.01. It seemed that the most probable source of infecting bacteria came from the oral cavity. Furthermore, α-streptococcus was detected in aqueous humor, vitreous body, left eyelid skin and oral cavity. Because this patient used an artificial larynx, Tapia, discharge from the oral cavity reached the conjunctival sac.