Burwen DR, Margo CE, McNeil MM, Brown JM, Tapelband G, Jenkins RB, Jarvis WR. A pseudoepidemic of postoperative scleritis due to misdiagnosis.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1999;
20:539-42. [PMID:
10466553 DOI:
10.1086/501666]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To describe a pseudoepidemic of infectious scleritis following eye surgery.
METHODS
Retrospective cohort study with selected procedural and laboratory investigations.
RESULTS
Twenty-one patients with postoperative scleritis were identified during a 2-month outbreak. Neither an infectious etiology nor a causative pre-, intra-, or postoperative exposure was found. The clinical findings, when carefully reviewed, were consistent with poor surgical-wound closure.
CONCLUSIONS
The art of clinical diagnosis involves the subjective interpretation of clinical history, physical findings, and laboratory results. A repeated error in the interpretation of clinical findings can simulate an outbreak of disease. Clinicians may be reluctant to concede misdiagnosis.
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