Contamination Risk of Gatifloxacin and Moxifloxacin in Prophylactic Use for Frequent Intravitreal Injections

Abstract

Purpose:: Gatifloxacin and Moxifloxacin are topical antibiotics commonly used for prophylaxis along with intravitreal injections. We studied the contamination risk of Gatifloxacin and Moxifloxacin with intravitreal Pegaptanib injections.

Methods:: Commercially available bottles of Gatifloxacin or Moxifloxacin were given alternatively to the patients on the day of the Pegaptanib injections after taking samples for the culture of the bottle cap and the content. The antibiotic drops were used four times a day for four days starting on the day of the injection. Patients kept the bottles and brought them in for repeat culture on the next injection day six weeks later.

Results:: None of the forty samples of each of the antibiotics was positive for fungal or bacterial growth.

Conclusions:: Both Gatifloxacin and Moxifloxacin topical drops seem to be free of bacterial and fungal contamination up to six weeks after the initial use and one may consider keeping the remaining contents of the same bottle for use with the next injection.

Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • injection