Purpose: To report Enterococcus faecalis endophthalmitis (EFE) in children and its comparison with adults.
Methods: Retrospective study of 19 children up to 18 years age, undergoing vitrectomy for EFE at a referral eye center from January 1995 to December 2015. The results were compared to 18 adults with EFE.
Results: The mean age was 7.4 ± 3.06 years. Post-traumatic EFE was seen in 17 (89.4%) children (p < 0.05) versus postoperative EFE seen in 12 (66%) adults. Broomstick 9 (52.9%) and hypodermic needle injury 6 (35.2%) were common associations. "Optimum functional outcome" was achieved in 12 (63.1%) eyes of children and 5 (27.7%) eyes of adults (p = 0.03). Sealed and Zone II wounds, lens, and needle injuries had good outcome whereas intervention after 3 days and retinal detachment had poor outcomes (p < 0.05). The was no correlation with the Ocular Trauma Score.
Conclusion: EFE in children is rare; seen with broom stick and needle injuries, if managed early recovers optimum vision.
Keywords: Broom stick injury; Children; Endophthalmitis; Enterococcus faecalis; Hypodermic needle injury; Post-traumatic endophthalmitis; Self-sealing ocular wounds.