June 2023
Volume 64, Issue 8
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2023
Physician-Patient Face Masking’s Influence on Post-Intravitreal Injection Endophthalmitis Rates
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Conner Liddle
    Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, Michigan, United States
  • Matthew Trese
    Associated Retinal Consultants, Michigan, United States
    Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, Michigan, United States
  • Antonio Capone
    Associated Retinal Consultants, Michigan, United States
    Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, Michigan, United States
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Conner Liddle None; Matthew Trese None; Antonio Capone Novartis, Code C (Consultant/Contractor), Syngergetics, Code C (Consultant/Contractor), FocusROP and Retinal Solutions, Code O (Owner)
  • Footnotes
    Support  None
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June 2023, Vol.64, 4417. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      Conner Liddle, Matthew Trese, Antonio Capone; Physician-Patient Face Masking’s Influence on Post-Intravitreal Injection Endophthalmitis Rates. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2023;64(8):4417.

      Download citation file:


      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose : To evaluate the role of both physician/patient face masking as it relates to endophthalmitis rates following intravitreal injections (IVI).

Methods : The electronic health record of a multi-site, retina only practice was retrospectively evaluated to identify IVIs (CPT code 67028) that occurred one year prior and one year after local mask mandating was enforced due to the Coronavirus 19 (COVID 19) pandemic. We identified episodes of endophthalmitis (ICD 10 H44.001, H44.002) that occurred within two weeks of an IVI and calculated the rate of endophthalmitis in each group. Episodes of endophthalmitis were evaluated for time to diagnosis, culture results and treatment approach for each group.

Results : Our analysis revealed 21,987 subjects between the two time periods who underwent 121,384 IVIs over the 2-year period interest. Of these, 63,114 IVIs were in the unmasked group, where 29 (0.046%) episodes of endophthalmitis were identified. In the masked group, 58,270 IVIs were performed, and 17 (0.038%) cases of endophthalmitis were found. There were no statistically significant differences regarding the rate of endophthalmitis between the two groups (p value = 0.1336). Other results suggest that in the masked group, time to presentation was modestly delayed (~1 day) and in general more virulent bacterial species were identified.

Conclusions : Our results concur with previously studies which indicate that the role of physician/patient face masking does not significantly influence the rate of post-IVI endophthalmitis. Further, we report a trend toward delayed presentation and more virulent bacterial species in the masked group.

This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.

×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×