Cluster outbreak of Pseudomonas stutzeri acute endophthalmitis following phacoemulsification: A report of 14 cases from North India

PURPOSE: To report clinical features, antibiotic susceptibility profile, management, and outcomes of a cluster outbreak of post-cataract surgery Pseudomonas stutzeri endophthalmitis. METHODS: This was a hospital-based case series in which 14 patients with acute postoperative endophthalmitis who underwent cataract surgery on the same day were included. Based on severity of presentation, they either underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with intraocular antibiotics (IOAB) or vitreous tap with IOAB. Vitreous aspirates and environmental surveillance samples were inoculated on culture media and further processed by MALDI-TOF MS for identification and Vitek3 for susceptibility profile. RESULTS: There were 8 females and 6 males with a mean age of 62.14 ± 8.08 years. Presenting signs included corneal folds (100%), hypopyon (57.1%) and fibrin (50%). Ten patients with mild presentation underwent vitreous tap with IOAB. Four patients with severe presentation underwent PPV with IOAB. Pseudomonas stutzeri was isolated from the vitreous samples and was pan-sensitive. Six eyes required multiple interventions. Favorable outcome was obtained in 12 eyes, one eye developed phthisis, and one patient was lost to follow-up. CONCLUSION: We report the first ever cluster outbreak of Pseudomonas stutzeri endophthalmitis following phacoemulsification with IOL implantation in a single surgeon setting. Majority of the patients had a mild presentation and responded well to targeted anti-microbial treatment.