Microbial endophthalmitis resulting from ocular trauma.

Twenty-seven cases of culture-positive endophthalmitis that developed after ocular trauma were reviewed. The intraocular culture specimens showed a virulent microbiologic spectrum with Bacillus sp as the most common isolate (8 eyes). The visual prognosis was poor, with only 22% of patients retaining 20/400 or better vision. This level of vision was achieved in 2 of 22 (9%) bacterial cases and in four of five (80%) fungal cases. Retinal detachment (5 cases) or retinal breaks (2 cases) at the time of the initial injury had a uniformly poor visual prognosis. Postoperative retinal detachment not associated with phthisis bulbi occurred in five eyes, three of which had successful retinal reattachment surgery. Delayed onset retinal detachment after successful initial management of traumatic endophthalmitis had a greater frequency of successful retinal reattachment surgery.