Role of topical antibiotics in prophylaxis against endophthalmitis following intravitreal antibiotics

Abstract

Objective:To compare the prophylactic use of antibiotic with placebo to prevent post intra-vitreal endophthalmitis and other complications.Methods:A prospective, cohort study was conducted at Ophthalmology Department, Fauji Foundation Hospital (FFH), from June 2016 to July 2017. A total of 1082 eyes of 673 patients were enrolled in this study. Patients were selected at non-random and divided into two groups. In Group-I, non – exposed, placebo eye drops were given after intravitreal bevacizumab injections and in Group-II, exposed, ofloxacin eye drops were given after intravitreal bevacizumab injections.Results:Total 1082 eyes were given intravitreal bevacizumab injection in 673 patients. No patients in Group-I, non – exposed, receiving placebo eye drops developed post intra vitreal endophthalmitis, whereas only 01 (0.1%) patient developed post intravitreal endophthalmitis in Group-II, exposed, receiving ofloxacin eye drops. In inferential statistics the P- value was also statistically insignificant [x2 (1, N=1082) =0.95, P>0.05]Conclusion:This study showed that topical antibiotic, as a prophylaxis after intravitreal injections has no role in the prevention of post intravitreal endophthalmitis and other complications.

Effects of perioperative managements on ocular surface microbiota in intravitreal injection patients

“…Doctors would like to believe these perioperative managements might decrease the pathogens. However, some published articles showed that using antibiotics eye drops could not make the infection rate lower 2,3 . Some study showed that local antibiotic eye drops might increase microbial resistance and opportunistic infection 4 .…”