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. 2019 Jan;3(1):3-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.oret.2018.09.013. Epub 2018 Sep 25.

Predictors of Endophthalmitis after Intravitreal Injection: A Multivariable Analysis Based on Injection Protocol and Povidone Iodine Strength

Maxwell S Stem  1 , Prethy Rao  1 , Ivan J Lee  2 , Maria A Woodward  3 , Lisa J Faia  4 , Jeremy D Wolfe  4 , Antonio Capone Jr  4 , Douglas Covert  1 , A Bawa Dass  1 , Kimberly A Drenser  4 , Bruce R Garretson  4 , Tarek S Hassan  4 , Alan Margherio  1 , Kean T Oh  1 , Paul V Raephaelian  1 , Sandeep Randhawa  4 , Scott Sneed  1 , Michael T Trese  4 , Sunita Yedavally  1 , George A Williams  4 , Alan J Ruby  5
Affiliations

Predictors of Endophthalmitis after Intravitreal Injection: A Multivariable Analysis Based on Injection Protocol and Povidone Iodine Strength

Maxwell S Stem et al. Ophthalmol Retina. 2019 Jan.

Erratum in

  • Corrigendum.
    Stem MS, Rao P, Lee IJ, Woodward MA, Faia LJ, Wolfe JD, Capone A Jr, Covert D, Dass AB, Drenser KA, Garretson BR, Hassan TS, Margherio A, Oh KT, Raephaelian PV, Randhawa S, Sneed S, Trese MT, Yedavally S, Williams GA, Ruby AJ. Stem MS, et al. Ophthalmol Retina. 2019 May;3(5):456. doi: 10.1016/j.oret.2019.03.024. Ophthalmol Retina. 2019. PMID: 31044742 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the incidence of endophthalmitis after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy at our institution and to identify potential risk factors for endophthalmitis occurring after injection.

Design: Retrospective, single-center cohort study.

Participants: All patients who received an intravitreal injection of an anti-VEGF medication between January 1, 2014, and March 31, 2017.

Methods: Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases billing codes were used to identify instances of anti-VEGF administration and cases of endophthalmitis. Medical records and injection technique were reviewed carefully in each case. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed in a stepwise fashion to determine independent predictors of endophthalmitis based on injection protocol.

Main outcome measures: Incidence of endophthalmitis after injection and odds of endophthalmitis by injection technique with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: A total of 154 198 anti-VEGF injections were performed during the period of interest, resulting in 58 cases of endophthalmitis (0.038% [1:2659]). After adjustment for confounders, both 2% lidocaine jelly (odds ratio [OR], 11.28; 95% CI, 3.39-37.46; P < 0.001) and 0.5% Tetravisc (Ocusoft, Richmond, TX; OR, 3.95; 95% CI, 1.15-13.50; P = 0.03) use were independent risk factors for endophthalmitis after injection. Lid speculum use, povidone iodine strength (5% vs. 10%), injection location (superior or inferior), conjunctival displacement, use of provider gloves, use of a strict no-talking policy, use of subconjunctival lidocaine, and topical antibiotic use were not statistically significant predictors of endophthalmitis after injection. There was no difference in endophthalmitis rate among the anti-VEGF agents (bevacizumab, ranibizumab 0.3 mg, ranibizumab 0.5 mg, and aflibercept).

Conclusions: The incidence of endophthalmitis after anti-VEGF injections is low. Use of lidocaine jelly or Tetravisc may increase the risk of endophthalmitis after injection.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures or proprietary interests.

Comment in

References

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