Purpose: To report the clinical features, antibiotic susceptibility profiles, treatment, and visual acuity (VA) outcomes of endophthalmitis caused by Corynebacterium species.
Design: Retrospective case series.
Subjects: Patients with endophthalmitis caused by Corynebacterium species.
Methods: Microbiology database records were retrospectively reviewed for all patients with endophthalmitis caused by Corynebacterium species from January 1, 1990 to December 31, 2012 at a large university referral center. The corresponding clinical records were then reviewed to evaluate the endophthalmitis clinical features and treatment outcomes.
Main outcome measures: presenting clinical features, visual acuity outcomes, and antibiotic susceptibility patterns.
Results: Of 10 patients identified, clinical settings included post-cataract surgery (n = 6), post-penetrating keratoplasty (n = 2), and post-trabeculectomy (n = 2). The mean time from surgical procedure to presentation with endophthalmitis was 6.8 months (range: 1 day to 28 months). All isolates were vancomycin susceptible. Presenting VA ranged from 7/200 to no light perception. Initial treatment strategies were vitreous tap and intravitreal antibiotic injection (n = 5) and pars plana vitrectomy with intravitreal antibiotic injection (n = 5). VA outcomes were ≥ 20/60 in 5 (50%) of 10 patients and ≤ 20/400 in 5 (50%) of 10 patients.
Conclusions: The most common clinical setting was post-cataract surgery. All isolates were susceptible to vancomycin. Despite prompt treatment with appropriate antibiotics, there were variable visual outcomes.