Bilateral simultaneous postoperative endophthalmitis: review of cases reported over the past 50 years

A detailed retrospective analysis and literature review were conducted for all previously published reports of bilateral simultaneous postoperative endophthalmitis (BSPOE) since 1970. There have been 7 (9, with 2 currently being reported elsewhere) cases of BSPOE after immediately sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS) reported over 50 years. Generally, in these cases, the surgical protocol recommended by the International Society of Bilateral Cataract Surgeons ( i SBCS) was breached or uncertain. Bacterial causes were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3), Staphylococcus epidermidis (3), and Burkholderia cepacia complex (1). One case showed negative results for bacterial infection and 1 was not determined. Visual recovery was light perception, or worse, for Pseudomonas cases, generally good for Staphylococcus and Burkholderia cases, and mixed in cases of unknown etiology. Therefore, BSPOE is rare and causes vary. Strict adherence to the i SBCS General Principles of Excellence in ISBCS 2009 surgical protocol and care with operating room construction seem to considerably lessen the risk.