Abstract
Purpose: :
To assess the results of a consecutive series of 1,000 intravitreous injections without topical antibiotic prophylaxis.
Methods: :
The data from 1,000 consecutive intravitreous injections, including demographics, diagnosis, medication given and safety outcomes including endophthalmitis were retrospectively analyzed. All injections were given with topical povidone iodine prep (pre- and post-injection) but without any topical antibiotics prior to, during or after the intravitreous injections.
Results: :
419 patients were treated with 1000 intravitreous injections. Two hundred seventy three patients were female and 146 were male. Five hundred fifty four right eyes and 446 left eyes were treated. The mean age of the patients was 77.9 years. Seven hundred forty injections of bevacizumab, 121 injections of pegaptanib sodium, 112 injections of triamcinolone acetonide, 10 injections of gancyclovir and 9 injections of ranibizumab were administered.The largest number of injections were performed for exudative age-related macular degeneration. Less common causes included diabetic macular edema and cystoid macular edema due to other diseases and CMV retinitis.There were no cases of endophthalmitis. There was one case of retinal detachment in a patient with progressive outer retinal necrosis who developed a detachment one month after a second injection of gancylovir.Secondary glaucoma occurred in 28 eyes after triamcinolone acetonide injection.1,000 consecutive intravitreous injections of triamcinolone, pegaptanib sodium, and bevacizumab were given by a single surgeon without any cases of endophthalmitis.
Conclusions: :
Intravitreous injections may be administered safely with topical povidone iodine prep but without topical antibiotic prophylaxis.
Keywords: injection • vitreous • endophthalmitis