DIAGNOSIS OF INFECTIOUS ENDOPHTHALMITIS AFTER CATARACT-SURGERY BY POLYMERASE-CHAIN-REACTION

Purpose: To ascertain whether the use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique leads to more rapid diagnosis of infectious endophtha lmitis after cataract surgery. Setting: University Eye Clinic Regensbu rg, Germany. Methods: The aqueous humor and vitreous of 16 eyes with i nfectious endophthalmitis (10 acute, 6 delayed) were evaluated by micr oscopy, diagnostic culture, and PCR to detect the infectious agent. Re sults: Microscopy of the vitreous was positive in 3 eyes and the cultu re media results were positive in 7 eyes, all with acute endophthalmit is. Significantly fewer positive results were obtained in the aqueous humor. Using PCR, an infectious agent was detected in the aqueous humo r of ail 16 eyes and in the vitreous of 14. The vitreous sample was ne gative in 2 eyes with delayed endophthalmitis. Conclusions: Detection of the infectious agent was more successful using PCR than using conve ntional microbiological tests, especially in the diagnosis of delayed endophthalmitis where the pathogen was detected in the aqueous humor i n ail eyes.