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Study: Candida isolates more common in endogenous vs. postop endophthalmitis
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Patients with endogenous endophthalmitis are more likely to have Candida isolates than patients with postoperative endophthalmitis, according to a study by researchers in Germany.
"Visual prognosis depends mainly on the underlying microorganisms and is particularly poor in the case of infection with gram-positive bacteria or Aspergillus," the study authors said.
Thomas Ness, MD, and colleagues investigated the causative microorganisms, disposition and prognosis of endogenous endophthalmitis in 31 eyes of 28 patients treated between 1996 and 2006. They published their results in the December issue of Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica.
The researchers identified the microorganisms responsible for endophthalmitis in 29 eyes (94%). Specifically, they found Candida isolates in 15 eyes, gram-positive isolates in 11 eyes, gram-negative isolates in one eye and Aspergillus in two eyes.
Most patients suffered from immunodeficiency, severe surgical procedures or diabetes mellitus. Additionally, one-third of patients were intravenous drug abusers, and one patient was otherwise healthy, the authors reported.
"Whereas none of the eyes with Candida infection became blind, all except two of the eyes with gram-positive bacteria, Nocardia or Aspergillus infection lost visual function or had to be enucleated," the authors said.