Inflammatory response in experimental Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas endophthalmitis

Staphylococcus epidermidis [2.0 x 10(4) colony-forming units (CFU)/0.1 ml] and Pseudomonas aeruginosa(2.0 x 10(3) CFU/ml) were inoculated in the vitre ous humor of rabbits. In S. epidermidis endophthalmitis, the numbers of mic roorganisms reached a maximum (4.1 x 10(7) CFU/ ml) at day 2 after inoculat ion and then declined spontaneously. However, clinical scores were observed to be worst at day 5, In P, aeruginosa endophthalmitis, the numbers of mic roorganisms reached a maximum (9.3 x 10(6) CFU/ml) 36 h after inoculation. However, culture results were persistently positive until day 15. Electrore tinogram (ERG) b-wave amplitudes in S. epidermidis endophthalmitis continue d to decrease from day 3 (>24%) until day 5, and then recovered to the prei noculative level of amplitudes at day 7. ERG b-wave amplitudes in P. aerugi nosa endophthalmitis continued to decrease after 24 h (>24%), ERG b-wave am plitudes from day 7 to day 15 were flat. The inflammatory response continue d under the absence of microorganisms in S. epidermidis endophthalmitis. Th e time in which a maximum in the number of microorganisms was reached was e arlier than that in the clinical examination scores in both S. epidermidis and P. aeruginosa endophthalmitis.