title: Prophylactic antibiotic use after intravitreal injection: effect on endophthalmitis rate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endophthalmitis after intravitreal injection is a serious complication. There are limited data to support the use of postinjection antibiotics to prevent endophthalmitis. Current endophthalmitis rates after intravitreal injection in the literature are based on studies where patients routinely received postinjection antibiotics. This study retrospectively compares the rate of endophthalmitis in a cohort of patients receiving postinjection antibiotics with that in a group that does not.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was performed comparing a 12-month period where patients received postinjection topical antibiotics for several days after intravitreal injection with the next 12-month period where no postinjection topical antibiotics were used. Cases of suspected endophthalmitis after intravitreal injection during this period were identified and reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of clinically suspected endophthalmitis in the cohort of patients receiving postinjection antibiotics after intravitreal injection and that in the cohort that did not was 0.22% and 0.20%, respectively. One culture-positive case was found overall. The difference between the 2 groups is not statistically significant (P = 0.75).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate of endophthalmitis after intravitreal injections administered in a clinical practice setting when aseptic technique is used is similar with or without the use of postinjection antibiotics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: Shabari S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bhatt
authors.forename: Kimberly E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Stepien
authors.forename: Komal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Joshi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000382:microbiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D002442:Ceftazidime / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D005938:Glucocorticoids; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D014640:Vancomycin; D002442:Ceftazidime; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide; D000069579:Ranibizumab