Visual outcome of endogenous endophthalmitis in Thailand

To evaluate a 10-year visual outcome of endogenous endophthalmitis (EE) patients. A 10-year retrospective chart review of EE patients. Thirty-eight patients (40 eyes) were diagnosed with EE at the mean age of 42. Among the identifiable pathogens (71.1% culture positive), the causative agents were predominantly gram-negative bacteria (48.1%). The most common specie was Klebsiella pneumoniae (25.9%). About a quarter of the patients required surgical eye removal, and the remaining 45.7% had visual acuity (VA) worse than hand motion at one month after the infectious episode. The most common complication was ocular hypertension (52.5%). Poor initial VA was significantly associated with a worse visual outcome in the early post-treatment period (p 0.12, adjusted OR 10.20, 95% CI 1.65-62.96). Five patients continued to visit the clinic for at least ten years. One patient had gained his vision from hand motion to 6/7.5. Two patients had visual deterioration, one from corneal decompensation, and the other from chronic retinal re-detachment. Two patients developed phthisis bulbi, with either some VA perception of light or no light perception. Poor initial VA is the only prognostic factor of a poor early post-treatment visual outcome of EE.

Automated summary

The study found that the 10-year visual outcomes of endogenous endophthalmitis patients were poor, with gram-negative bacteria, especially Klebsiella pneumoniae, being the main causative agents. Some patients required surgical eye removal, and poor initial visual acuity was a key factor affecting early post-treatment visual outcomes.