RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Comparison of the aetiology, microbiological isolates and antibiotic susceptibilities of endophthalmitis between children and adults in southern China: a retrospective, cohort study JF BMJ Open JO BMJ Open FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group SP e085021 DO 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085021 VO 14 IS 11 A1 Yang, Yao A1 Lin, Jiaqi A1 Li, Yujie A1 Ding, Xiaohu A1 Liu, Manli A1 Zeng, Jieting A1 Lin, Xiaofeng A1 Duan, Fang YR 2024 UL http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/11/e085021.abstract AB Objectives To compare aetiology, microbiological isolates and antibiotic susceptibilities of endophthalmitis between children and adults.Design Retrospective observational study.Participants Patients admitted to Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center between January 2013 and December 2019 with clinically diagnosed endophthalmitis were included.Outcome measures The aetiology, microbiological isolates and antibiotic susceptibilities of endophthalmitis were analysed.Results Of 1803 patients, 430 (23.8%) were aged ≤16 years. In both children and adults, the main aetiology was trauma (85.6% vs 64.7%, p<0.05). Streptococcus species (spp.) (28.8%) were most prevalent in paediatric post-traumatic endophthalmitis; whereas, coagulase-negative staphylococci (36.9%) were dominant in adults. In postoperative endophthalmitis, all children had bacterial infections, while fungal infections accounted for 12.5% in adults. In endogenous endophthalmitis caused by fungi, Candida was most prevalent in adults (26.9%); whereas, all causative fungi involved filamentous fungi in children. Isolated bacteria in children presented a higher susceptibility in 7 of 11 antibiotics compared with those in adults. Levofloxacin had the highest susceptibility rate in children (97.9%), and ofloxacin had the highest susceptibility rate in adults (90.6%).Conclusion The main aetiology was trauma, with a higher proportion in children than in adults. The microbial profile of paediatric endophthalmitis was different from those of adults. Susceptibilities of causative bacteria to most antibiotics were higher in children than in adults.All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information.