Community ophthalmology: cluster of post-operative infections after eye camp: practice question

A Ophthalmology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Ophthalmology · Community ophthalmology: cluster of post-operative infections after eye camp

Sample item

After a surgical eye camp, 12 of 60 patients develop severe endophthalmitis within 48 hours, all from the same operating session. What is the most likely common source?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Contaminated irrigating fluid or inadequately sterilised instruments

A cluster of acute infections from one session points to a shared exposure in the theatre, such as contaminated irrigating solution, viscoelastic, instruments or autoclave failure. Investigation includes culture of fluids and review of sterilisation. This is why eye camps must meet theatre standards with batch records.

Option by option

  • A. Contaminated irrigating fluid or inadequately sterilised instruments (correct)

    Correct. A single operating session cluster implies shared contaminated fluids or instruments.

  • B. Patients using eye drops from different bottles

    Different drop bottles would not produce a synchronous cluster.

  • C. Preoperative diabetes in all patients

    Diabetes would not explain a cluster limited to one session.

  • D. Poor patient hygiene at home

    Home hygiene would cause scattered cases, not an onset within 48 hours after one session.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Ophthalmology questions

Questions about this Ophthalmology question

What is the answer to this Ophthalmology question?

The best answer is A, Contaminated irrigating fluid or inadequately sterilised instruments. A cluster of acute infections from one session points to a shared exposure in the theatre, such as contaminated irrigating solution, viscoelastic, instruments or autoclave failure.

Why is "Patients using eye drops from different bottles" not the answer?

Different drop bottles would not produce a synchronous cluster.

Why is "Preoperative diabetes in all patients" not the answer?

Diabetes would not explain a cluster limited to one session.

Why is "Poor patient hygiene at home" not the answer?

Home hygiene would cause scattered cases, not an onset within 48 hours after one session.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Community ophthalmology: cluster of post-operative infections after eye camp in Ophthalmology. Investigation includes culture of fluids and review of sterilisation. This is why eye camps must meet theatre standards with batch records.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Community ophthalmology: cluster of post-operative infections after eye camp?

Group the red eye by what to examine and what the pupil does. Then use the flashcards and the other Ophthalmology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.