Dataset Information

Fungal Endophthalmitis Outbreak after Cataract Surgery, South Korea, 2020.

ABSTRACT: In November 2020, an unusual increase in fungal endophthalmitis cases after cataract surgery was reported to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, South Korea. We initiated an outbreak investigation to identify the cause. We identified 156 cases nationwide, 62 confirmed and 94 probable. Most case-patients were exposed during surgery to ocular viscoelastic devices (OVDs) from the same manufacturer (company A). We isolated Fusarium spp. from 50 confirmed cases. Molecular identification of 39 fungal isolates from clinical samples and 13 isolates from OVDs confirmed F. oxysporum caused the infections. The risk ratio for fungal endophthalmitis from company A's OVDs was 86.0 (95% CI 27.4-256.9), much higher than risk from other manufacturers' products. We determined this fungal endophthalmitis outbreak was caused by a contaminated lot of OVDs and recommended discontinued use of this product. Early recognition of outbreaks and joint responses from related government agencies can reduce risk for fungal endophthalmitis.

SUBMITTER: Yoon SJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9622257 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Fungal Endophthalmitis Outbreak after Cataract Surgery, South Korea, 2020.

Yoon Soo Jeong SJ Kim Soo Hyun SH Bahk Hyun Jung HJ Ahn Yeong Seo YS Lee Ji Joo JJ Kim Hye Jin HJ Lim Ha Jin HJ Choi Min Ji MJ Shin Jong Hee JH Lee Yeon-Kyeng YK

Emerging infectious diseases 20221101 11

In November 2020, an unusual increase in fungal endophthalmitis cases after cataract surgery was reported to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, South Korea. We initiated an outbreak investigation to identify the cause. We identified 156 cases nationwide, 62 confirmed and 94 probable. Most case-patients were exposed during surgery to ocular viscoelastic devices (OVDs) from the same manufacturer (company A). We isolated Fusarium spp. from 50 confirmed cases. Molecular identification ...[more]

PMID: 36285883

Similar Datasets

Project description:ImportanceFungal endophthalmitis caused by contaminated medical products is extremely rare; it follows an intractable clinical course with a poor visual prognosis.ObjectiveTo report the epidemiologic and clinical features and treatment outcomes of a nationwide fungal endophthalmitis outbreak after cataract surgery as a result of contaminated viscoelastic agents in South Korea.Design, setting, and participantsThis was a retrospective case series analysis of clinical data from multiple institutions in South Korea conducted from September 1, 2020, to October 31, 2021. Data were collected through nationwide surveys in May and October 2021 from the 100 members of the Korean Retinal Society. Patients were diagnosed with fungal endophthalmitis resulting from the use of the viscoelastic material sodium hyaluronate (Unial [Unimed Pharmaceutical Inc]). Data were analyzed from November 1, 2021, to May 30, 2022.Main outcomes and measuresThe clinical features and causative species were identified, and treatment outcomes were analyzed for patients who underwent 6 months of follow-up.ResultsThe fungal endophthalmitis outbreak developed between September 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021, and peaked in November 2020. An official investigation by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency confirmed contamination of viscoelastic material. All 281 eyes of 265 patients (mean [SD] age, 65.4 [10.8] years; 153 female individuals [57.7%]) were diagnosed with fungal endophthalmitis, based on clinical examinations and supportive culture results. The mean (SD) time period between cataract surgery and diagnosis was 24.7 (17.3) days. Patients exhibited characteristic clinical features of fungal endophthalmitis, including vitreous opacity (212 of 281 [75.4%]), infiltration into the intraocular lens (143 of 281 [50.9%]), and ciliary infiltration (55 of 281 [19.6%]). Cultures were performed in 260 eyes, and fungal presence was confirmed in 103 eyes (39.6%). Among them, Fusarium species were identified in 89 eyes (86.4%). Among the 228 eyes included in the treatment outcome analysis, the mean (SD) best-corrected visual acuity improved from 0.78 (0.74) logMAR (Snellen equivalent, 20/120 [7.3 lines]) to 0.36 (0.49) logMAR (Snellen equivalent, 20/45 [4.9 lines]) at 6 months. Furthermore, disease remission with no signs of fungal endophthalmitis (or cells in the anterior chamber milder than grade 1) was noted in 214 eyes (93.9%).Conclusions and relevanceThis was a retrospectively reviewed case series of a fungal endophthalmitis outbreak resulting from contaminated viscoelastic material. Findings of this case series study support the potential benefit of prompt, aggressive surgical intervention that may reduce treatment burden and improve prognosis of fungal endophthalmitis caused by contaminated medical products.

Dataset Information

Fungal Endophthalmitis Outbreak after Cataract Surgery, South Korea, 2020.

Publications

Fungal Endophthalmitis Outbreak after Cataract Surgery, South Korea, 2020.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets