Endophthalmitis following cataract surgery and effect of different intracameral antibiotic regimes in Sweden 2011 - 2017. A national registry study.

PURPOSE: To study the incidence, predictive factors, aetiology and visual consequences of postoperative endophthalmitis (PE) in relation to three intracameral antibiotic regimes. SETTING: Swedish National Cataract Register (NCR) entries from 2011 through 2017. DESIGN: Observational retrospective study. METHODS: PE incidence, influencing factors, bacteriology and visual outcome were analyzed with regard to the three major prophylactic IC protocols. RESULTS: The overall incidence of PE was 0.023% or 177 cases in 764 513 cataract procedures. Analyzed per intracameral regime, the rates of PE were 0.024% (126 cases in 514 916 surgeries) for cefuroxime, 0.020% (25 cases in 122 340 surgeries) for moxifloxacin and 0.017% (20 cases in 121 045 surgeries) for combined cefuroxime-ampicillin. Incidences were not statistically significantly different from one another. Gram-positive bacteria caused 89.0% of culture positive cases. Enterococci as pathogens were significantly more frequent with intracameral cefuroxime than with moxifloxacin, p = 0.006 or cefuroxime-ampicillin, p < 0.001, while streptococci other than enterococci were more common with moxifloxacin than with cefuroxime, p < 0.001. Bacterial susceptibility to the given antibiotics was demonstrated in 21.3% of PE cases treated with cefuroxime, which was statistically significantly lower than proportions found with cefuroxime-ampicillin, 60.0%, p = 0.015, or with moxifloxacin, 88.2%, p < 0.001. Visual outcome worse than 20/200 were similar in the groups ranging from 42.0% to 53.7%. CONCLUSION: No statistically significant differences in PE incidence or visual outcome results between treatment groups were demonstrated. However, differences in aetiology and bacterial sensitivity were found between the prophylactic intracameral treatments.

Postoperative Endophthalmitis in Immediate Sequential Bilateral Cataract Surgery: A Nationwide Registry Study.

PURPOSE: To report the incidence of postoperative endophthalmitis (PE) after immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS) in Sweden. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort registry study. PARTICIPANTS: Patient data from 1 457 172 cataract extractions, including 1 364 934 unilateral surgeries and 92 238 ISBCSs. METHODS: Endophthalmitis cases reported to the Swedish National Cataract Register (NCR) during a 16-year period (2002-2017) were analyzed in comparison to all control cases with regard to patient characteristics, surgical technique, and capsule complication. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Incidence and determinants for PE in ISBCS compared with unilateral surgeries. RESULTS: A total of 422 cases of PE were identified in 1 457 172 cataract extractions, yielding an overall incidence of 0.029% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.0262-0.0317). For unilateral procedures, the rate was 0.0299% (95% CI, 0.0270-0.0328) or 408 cases in 1 364 934 operations, whereas that for ISBCS was 0.0152% (95% CI, 0.0072-0.0231) or 14 incidents in 92 238 operations (P = 0.01). In a logistic regression model including all cataract procedures, nonuse of intracameral (IC) antibiotics (ABs), capsule complication, age 85 years or more, male gender, and ocular comorbidity were found to be independent risk factors for PE. All these parameters were less frequent in ISBCS. Notwithstanding, in the same multivariate analysis, ISBCS in itself was associated with a significantly lower risk for PE. At follow-up, 5 of the 14 PE cases in the ISBCS cohort had a visual acuity (VA) of 20/200 or worse. Of these, one 93-year-old ISBCS patient developed bilateral infection. CONCLUSIONS: After ISBCS in Sweden, PE occurred once in 6600 surgeries. The risk of sustaining a final VA of 20/200 or less was 1 incident in 18 000 operated eyes. When counseling potential ISBCS patients about the risk of PE, it seems reasonable to state that the reported risk in the literature is lower than that with unilateral surgery but not negligible. Precautions remain necessary.

Risk factors for endophthalmitis after cataract surgery: Predictors for causative organisms and visual outcomes.

PURPOSE: To investigate visual outcome, bacteriology, and time to diagnosis in groups identified as being at risk for endophthalmitis following cataract surgery. SETTING: Swedish National Cataract Register. DESIGN: A retrospective review of postoperative endophthalmitis and control cases reported from 2002 to 2010. METHODS: Three identified risk groups for endophthalmitis confirmed in previous multivariate models were organized in such a way that the highest level of significance determined the allocation of cases that belonged to more than one group. Control cases of the entire database were arranged in the same manner. RESULTS: Of the 244 endophthalmitis cases occurring in 692 786 surgeries, 148 did not belong to any risk group, whereas the remaining cases were part of the following groups at risk: nontreatment with intracameral antibiotic (n = 22), communication with vitreous (n = 18), and age 85 years or more (n = 56). Cefuroxime was the intracameral antibiotic used in 99% of treated cases. Cases sustaining a communication with vitreous were found to have the worst visual prognosis. Among causative organisms, Gram-positive bacteria were significantly more frequent in cases with a communication with vitreous, whereas staphylococci and Gram-negative results were more common in patients aged 85 years or more than in nonrisk patients. CONCLUSION: Limiting the size of the risk groups by giving a prophylactic intracameral antibiotic to every single patient and by intervening earlier in the course of cataract development appear to be first steps in further reducing the endophthalmitis rate. Adjustments of the intracameral regimen may be advantageous in some risk groups. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: None of the authors has any financial or propriety interest in any material or method mentioned.

Six-year incidence of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery: Swedish national study.

PURPOSE: To report the nationwide incidence and risk factors for endophthalmitis after cataract surgery in Sweden. SETTING: Swedish National Cataract Register containing reports on cataract operations from all Swedish ophthalmic surgical units. DESIGN: Prospective epidemiologic study. METHODS: Endophthalmitis case reports were collected from 2005 through 2010. Case and control parameters pertaining to patient characteristics and surgical technique were generated from the database. In addition, information from annual surveys regarding the topical prophylactic protocol was analyzed. RESULTS: The reports showed 135 endophthalmitis cases in 464,996 operations, equaling an incidence of 0.029%. Patient age over 85 years, perioperative communication with the vitreous and, above all, nonuse of intracameral cefuroxime showed a statistically significant association with endophthalmitis in the logistic regression. Short-term topical antibiotics given as add-on prophylaxis to the intracameral regimen before, after, or before and after the operation did not confer a clear-cut benefit. Groups with topical treatment were small, comprising 14% of the sample. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery in Sweden is declining, which appears to be explained by a fall in the frequency of major risk factors. Operating earlier in the cataract course, avoiding capsule breakage, and giving intracameral antibiotics universally should further reduce the endophthalmitis rate.