Changing operating room practices: the effect on postoperative endophthalmitis rates following cataract surgery

PurposeTo determine whether four new operating room (OR) protocols instituted because of COVID-19 reduced the cataract surgical postoperative endophthalmitis rate (POE).DesignRetrospective, sequential, clinical registry study.Methods85 552 sequential patients undergoing cataract surgery at the Aravind Eye Hospitals between 1 January 2020 and 25 March 2020 (56 551 in group 1) and 3 May 2020 and 31 August 2020 (29 011 in group 2). In group 1, patients were not gowned, surgical gloves were disinfected but not changed between cases, OR floors were not cleaned between every case, and multiple patients underwent preparation and surgery in the same OR. In group 2, each patient was gowned, surgical gloves were changed between each case, OR floors and counters were cleaned between patients, and only one patient at a time underwent preparation and surgery in the OR.ResultsGroup 1 was older, had slightly more females, and better preoperative vision. More eyes in group 2 underwent phacoemulsification (p=0.18). Three eyes (0.005%) in group 1 and 2 eyes (0.006%) in group 2 developed POE (p=0.77). Only one eye that underwent phacoemulsification developed POE; this was in group 1. There was no difference in posterior capsule rupture rate between the two groups.ConclusionsAdopting a set of four temporary OR protocols that are often mandatory in the Western world did not reduce the POE rate. Along with previously published studies, these results challenge the necessity of these common practices which may be needlessly costly and wasteful, arguing for the reevaluation of empiric and potentially unnecessary guidelines that govern ophthalmic surgeries.

Intravitreal injections as a leading cause of acute postoperative endophthalmitis—a regional survey in England

Background To evaluate the characteristics, treatment patterns and outcomes of acute postoperative endophthalmitis. Methods Patients presenting with acute postoperative endophthalmitis between January 2017 to December 2019 were identified from hospital records in this multicentre retrospective cohort study. Clinical records were reviewed for visual acuity (VA) at various timepoints, cause of endophthalmitis, microbiological results, treatments and complications. Results Forty-six eyes of 46 patients were included. Intravitreal injections were the leading cause of acute postoperative endophthalmitis (n = 29; 63%), followed by cataract surgery (n = 8; 17%), vitreoretinal surgery (n = 7; 15%), and secondary intraocular lens insertion (n = 2, 4%). The absolute risk of endophthalmitis was 0.024% (1:4132) for intravitreal injections, 0.016% (1:6096) for cataract surgery, and 0.072% (1:1385) for vitreoretinal surgery. The majority of patients (n = 38; 83%) had better VA at 6 months compared to presentation, although fewer (n = 13; 28%) maintained similar or better VA compared to before the precipitating surgery. Twenty-four cases yielded positive culture results, of which staphylococcus epidermidis was the most commonly isolated organism. Microbiological yield was not associated with better final visual outcomes. Patients who underwent therapeutic vitrectomy (n = 15; 33%) had poorer VA at presentation, but subsequently achieved visual outcomes comparable to those who received medical treatment alone. There was no difference in time to presentation, visual outcome and retinal detachment rates among the different causative procedures. Conclusion Intravitreal injections were the most common cause of endophthalmitis in our region, primarily because of their higher frequency compared to other intraocular procedures. In this cohort, the primary procedure had no effect on presentation, management or visual outcomes.

Microbiological and Antibiotic Sensitivity Profile of Postoperative Endophthalmitis in a Tertiary Eye Care Hospital of North India

Introduction: We describe the microbiological profile of postoperative endophthalmitis from northern India and analyse the pattern of antibiotic sensitivity which may have changed due to development of resistance secondary to overuse of antimicrobial drugs. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective study of postoperative endophthalmitis from January 2011 to December 2017 in a tertiary eye hospital of northern India. Any patient developing endophthalmitis within one year of any intraocular procedure was included in the study. According to severity, treatment with a trial of intravitreal antibiotic injections or core vitrectomy was decided. Ocular samples were collected which were either anterior chamber tap or vitreous biopsy and sent for microbiological examination. The samples were stained with Gram’s and KOH stain and cultured on chocolate agar, blood agar, brain heart infusion broth and Sabouraud dextrose agar.Results: A total of 545 patients of postoperative endophthalmitis were analysed which showed a male predilection (60.5%) with maximum patients between the age group 50-69 years. 292 patients (53.5%) were culture negative and 253 patients (46.4%) were culture positive. Most common organism identified was Staphylococcus in 73 patients followed by Pseudomonas in 48 patients. Staphylococcus species was most sensitive to vancomycin (97%) followed by amikacin (91%) followed by gentamicin and moxifloxacin (88% each). Pseudomonas was the second most common isolate which showed maximum sensitivity to imipenem (82%) followed by ciprofloxacin(60%). Polymicrobial infection was noted in 23 patients. The most common fungal isolate was aspergillus in 11 patients, followed by fusarium in 10 patients. Conclusion: Our study shows that gram positive bacteria are the most common organisms in postoperative endophthalmitis and are most sensitive to vancomycin, followed by gram negative bacteria which show increased sensitivity with imipenem than commonly used antibiotic - ceftazidime.

Outbreak of postoperative endophthalmitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa: a case report and brief literature review

Endophthalmitis is the most serious complication of cataract surgery. A cluster of endophthalmitis is a devastating event for surgeons. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the main causative pathogen of Gram-negative endophthalmitis, which can be suggestive of the occurrence of an outbreak. Ten patients diagnosed with endophthalmitis after cataract surgery performed by one surgeon were analyzed in this study. At presentation, five patients had obvious clinical findings of endophthalmitis with visual acuity of light perception, two patients had poor light perception/no light perception of vision complicated by concomitant keratitis, and three patients had earlier signs of infection (e.g., a lower degree of anterior chamber and vitreous cells, better presenting visual acuity, and greater visibility of the fundus). Investigations revealed that the source of infection was growth of P. aeruginosa on the phaco probe. All of the surgeries had been performed by the same contaminated probe without sterilization between surgeries. This finding emphasizes the importance of strict adherence to sterility protocols during high-risk surgeries such as intraocular surgeries. Additionally, this report aims to emphasize to surgeons that negligence of simple but vital steps of sterility for any reason, such as limitations in time or equipment, can lead to catastrophic events.

Rate of Endophthalmitis Following Cataract Surgery Using Intracameral Moxifloxacin without Postoperative Topical Antibiotics

Purpose To report the recent rate of acute postoperative endophthalmitis following cataract surgery at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) where postoperative topical antibiotics were excluded. Methods This was a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent phacoemulsification with or without intraocular lens insertion as standalone surgery from February 2018 through August 2020. Those undergoing combination surgeries were excluded. All patients received intracameral moxifloxacin at the conclusion of cataract surgery but were not prescribed postoperative topical antibiotics. Acute postoperative endophthalmitis was defined as occurring within six weeks after surgery. Results There were 2,218 standalone cataract surgeries performed on 1,418 patients. Zero cases of acute postoperative endophthalmitis were identified (0%). There were no systemic adverse reactions to intracameral moxifloxacin administration in the 41 patients with a preexisting fluoroquinolone allergy. Conclusion The recent rate of acute postoperative endophthalmitis following cataract surgery at KUMC using intracameral moxifloxacin without postoperative topical antibiotics is 0%.