Incidence of endophthalmitis after intravitreal application of anti VEGF therapy at the University Clinical Center in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
OBJECTIVE
To report the incidence of endophthalmitis following the use of intravitreal injection of anti- vascular endothelial growth factor (anti VEGF) therapy.


METHODS
In this retrospective study a total of 986 intravitreal bevacizumab injections were applied between January 2008 and April 2015 at the University Clinical Center Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Since January 2012, a total of 55 intravitreal ranibizumab injections were applied and since October 2014, 60 intravitreal aflibercept injections were applied to patients.


RESULTS
Two cases of endophthalmitis following intravitreal injection of bevaciuzumab occurred and none after ranibizumab or aflibercept. The overall incidence of clinical endophtahlmitis was 0.2%.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that a low rate of endophthalmitis can be achieved by means of a protocol. This is a very important study as it is the first of this kind in BiH that documents the incidence of endophthalmitis after intravitreal application. Currently, bevacizumab in BiH is most frequently used intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor due to very low price.
Eye Clinic, University Clinical Centre Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Svjetlana
S
Terzić
Eye Clinic, University Clinical Centre Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Adisa
A
Pilavdžić
Eye Clinic, University Clinical Centre Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Amra
A
Nadarević Vodenčarević
D000068258:Bevacizumab / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D000069579:Ranibizumab / Q000008:administration & dosage; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C533178:aflibercept; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D000069579:Ranibizumab
aflibercept; bevacizumab; complications of intravitreal application; ranibizumab