Purpose
To study endophthalmitis prevalence in an university hospital, assessing its epidemiological characteristics, symptoms onset, treatment and clinical outcome.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients diagnosed with endophthalmitis, from january 2009 to june 2011, identifying patient epidemiological characteristics, endophthalmitis cause, onset of symptoms time, previous treatment, hospital stay, treatment, culture results, clinical outcome and final visual acuity.
Results
Sixty-eight patients, 44 women and 24 men, with a mean age of 56,99 years, were evaluated. Most were referred from other services (27,94%), had already undergone to any medical treatment and/or surgery (45,59%), presented some comorbidity (60,29%) and resulted from trauma (35,29%) or post-surgery (22,06%). The average duration of onset of symptoms was 5,76 days and of hospitalization was 12,40 days. Initial and final visual acuity were both equal to or worse than light perception in 64,71% of cases. Most of patients (58,82%) undergone to clinical treatment only and 69,12% of cases presented no results in culture.
Conclusion
Endophthalmitis is one of the most serious and worst functional outcome between ophthalmologic disorders. Its rapid and accurate diagnosis is essential for appropriate and early treatment, in order to improve patient visual prognosis, ensuring better quality of life and socioeconomic reintegration.
Endophthalmitis; Eye Infections; Epidemiology; Prevention and Control; Vision Disorders
