Aggressive management of an epidemic of chronic pseudophakic endophthalmitis: results and literature survey.

Six cases of chronic endophthalmitis following extracapsular cataract extraction and lens implantation are reviewed. All were referred for tertiary management by one surgeon over a period of just over 2 years. In two of the cases coagulase negative staphylococci were isolated and in three Propionibacterium spp were retrieved. In the remaining case a mixed growth of coagulase negative staphylococci and Propionibacterium acnes was cultured. The surgical management, microbiological results, and eventual visual outcome are discussed. To our knowledge, this is the first documented outbreak of chronic pseudophakic endophthalmitis with commensal organisms from a single centre.