Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis of Endogenous Endophthalmitis in Western Gyeongsangnam-do

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical features and prognosis associated with endogenous endophthalmitis (EE) in western Gyeongsangnam-do over an 11-year period. METHODS: This study was a retrospective review of the medical records of 24 patients (33 eyes) who presented with endogenous endophthalmitis at the Gyeongsang National University Hospital from 2007 to 2017. RESULTS: The mean age of onset was 63.2 years, and 58.3% of the patients were men. Bilateral involvement was observed in nine patients (37.5%). Liver abscess (30.3%) and urinary tract infection (24.2%) were the most common extraocular sources of infection. Positive culture result was noted in 72.7% of the patients. The most common causative agents were gram-negative organisms (45.8%); the most commonly isolated microorganism was Klebsiella pneumoniae. Vitreous tapping and intravitreal antibiotic injection were performed in all patients; pars plana vitrectomy with intravitreal injection of antibiotics was performed in 12 eyes (36.4%). Enucleation and evisceration were performed in six eyes (18.2%). Initial visual acuity worse than hand motion was associated with a significantly worse visual outcome (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, EE showed a poor visual prognosis, irrespective of treatment. Poor initial visual acuity was predictive of poor visual outcome. Liver abscess and urinary tract infections were common extraocular sources of EE and K. pneumoniae was the most common causative organism.