An outbreak of postoperative gram-negative bacterial endophthalmitis associated with contaminated trypan blue ophthalmic solution

Clin Infect Dis. 2009 Jun 1;48(11):1580-3. doi: 10.1086/598938.

Abstract

We report 6 cases of postsurgical endophthalmitis due to gram-negative bacteria associated with contaminated trypan blue dye from a compounding pharmacy. Unopened trypan blue syringes yielded Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia complex on culture, with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns indistinguishable from patient isolates. Contamination of compounded medications should be considered when investigating outbreaks of postoperative endophthalmitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Burkholderia cepacia complex / classification
  • Burkholderia cepacia complex / genetics
  • Burkholderia cepacia complex / isolation & purification
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology*
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • DNA Fingerprinting
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Drug Contamination*
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • Endophthalmitis / epidemiology*
  • Endophthalmitis / microbiology
  • Genotype
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / epidemiology*
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Ophthalmic Solutions*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / classification
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / genetics
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / isolation & purification
  • Surgical Wound Infection / epidemiology*
  • Surgical Wound Infection / microbiology
  • Trypan Blue

Substances

  • Ophthalmic Solutions
  • Trypan Blue