title: A survey of UK practice patterns in the delivery of intravitreal injections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess UK practice patterns related to the prescription of antibiotics before, during and after intravitreal injections, the location where injections are carried out and the qualifications of those administering the injections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Every ophthalmology unit featured in the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (UK) training directory was contacted. A healthcare professional involved in giving intravitreal injections at each institution completed a questionnaire regarding local practice patterns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A response rate of 85% (115/136) was achieved. Seventy four percent of hospitals (85/115) gave take home antibiotics post intravitreal injection. Twenty three percent (26/115) of hospitals employed non-medical healthcare professionals to administer injections and 83% (96/115) administered intravitreal injections in a dedicated clean room as opposed to an operating theatre.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Practice patterns for intravitreal injection vary considerably. Guidelines alone do not appear to be effective in reducing practices which are considered wasteful and other approaches need to be developed.
authors.affiliation: Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Samia-Aly
authors.affiliation: Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cassels-Brown
authors.affiliation: Cardiff Eye Unit, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stancliffe
authors.affiliation: Vision and Eye Research Unit, Postgraduate Medical Institute, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: John E A
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Somner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections / Q000379:methods*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009885:Ophthalmology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
keywords: anti-bacterial agents; conservation of natural resources; economics; intravitreal injections; macular degeneration; physician's practice patterns