Anterior Chamber Paracentesis

Abstract

The results of 115 anterior chamber paracenteses were reviewed. Of these, 14 had been performed for diagnostic purposes in postoperative endophthalmitis. Cultures of aqueous from five of the 14 were positive.Staphylococcus aureuswas recovered from three, paracolon bacillus from one, andBacillus subtilisfrom one. A polymorphonuclear cell reaction characterized all cases of postoperative endophthalmitis from which bacteria were recovered. Since one third of the eyes with postoperative endophthalmitis in this series contained culturable bacteria, we consider anterior chamber paracentesis a valuable tool in the diagnosis of the etiology of postoperative endophthalmitis.