Objective
To determine if there is a difference in the risk of endophthalmitis after an intravitreal steroid injection compared to an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agent (anti-VEGF) injection
Design
Retrospective cohort study
Participants
75,249 beneficiaries in a large national US medical claims database representing 406,380 intravitreal injections
Methods
Data were searched for all intravitreal injections (CPT 67028) performed between 2003 and 2012. Cohorts were created based on injections using anti-VEGF agents (bevacizumab, ranibizumab, aflibercept and pegaptanib) and intraocular steroids (triamcinolone and dexamethasone). Endophthalmitis was defined as having a new endophthalmitis diagnosis (ICD9 360.0×) and either a “tap-and-inject” procedure (CPT67015, 67025), a vitrectomy (67036) or an intravitreal antibiotic injection on the same day, between 1 and 14 days post-injection. Exclusion occurred for any history of endophthalmitis, <6 months in the plan or <1 month follow up. The main outcome measure was the odds of endophthalmitis using logistic regression while controlling for injection-associated diagnosis, age, race and gender.
Results
387,714 anti-VEGF injections and 18,666 steroid intravitreal injections were performed and were followed by 73 (rate=0.019% or 1/5283 anti-VEGF injections) and 24 (rate= 0.13% or 1/778 steroid injections) cases of endophthalmitis respectively. After controlling for diagnosis, age, race and gender, the odds ratio for endophthalmitis occurring was 6.92 (95% CI: 3.54–13.52, p<0.001) times higher post-steroid injection compared to anti-VEGF injections.
Conclusions
The rate of endophthalmitis post-intravitreal steroid injection in a national cohort was 0.13% (1/778 injections). This rate conferred a significantly increased odds ratio of 6.92 for endophthalmitis compared to anti-VEGF agents.