Bacterial Endophthalmitis following the Use of Contaminated Preserved Corneal Tissue

Five eyes developed endophthalmitis, apparently from infected McCarey-Kaufman media. The bacteria in the eyes were the same as those cultured from the medium in all five instances. One eye had Klebsiella pneumoniae, two eyes had Staphylococcus epidermidis, and two eyes had Staph, aureus. Four of the eyes developed signs of endophthalmitis within 48–60 hours but one eye infected with Staph, epidermidis had a normal postoperative course for 2 months before developing signs of endophthalmitis. Despite intensive antibiotic and corticosteroid therapy, two eyes could not be saved. Another has a visual acuity of light perception. Visual acuity has improved to 20/40 and 20/200 in the remaining two.