Pseudomonas aeruginosa endophthalmitis caused by contamination of the internal fluid pathways of a phacoemulsifier.

Purpose: To report 4 cases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa endophthalmitis caused by internal contamination of the internal pathways of a phacoemulsifier.

Setting: Ophthalmology Center, Perpignan, France.

Methods: Four clinical cases of postoperative endophthalmitis occurred after phacoemulsification. An investigation was necessary to prove the cause of the bacteriological contamination.

Results: Serotyping and ribotyping of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains obtained from the vitreous samples and from the phacoemulsifier showed that all these strains were identical and that the initial site of the contamination was the phacoemulsifier.

Conclusions: The profession should be cognizant of this cause of endophthalmitis, although its occurrence is rare. Cataract surgeons should test samples from the collection bags of their phacoemulsifiers to ensure there is no bacteriological contamination.