Perioperative Topical Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs for Macular Edema Prophylaxis Following Cataract Surgery.

PURPOSE: To describe the effect of routine use of topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on the incidence of postoperative macular edema (PME) after cataract surgery. The role of diabetic retinopathy on the relationship between NSAID use and PME was further analyzed. DESIGN: Retrospective matched cohort study. METHODS: Patients undergoing cataract surgery between January 2007 and June 2014 were included in this study. A total of 108 093 Kaiser Permanente Southern California patients underwent cataract surgery and 89 731 met inclusion criteria. Cataract surgery patients who had a perioperative prescription of topical NSAIDs filled in addition to topical steroids were compared to those taking topical steroids only. The main outcome measure was the diagnosis of macular edema within 90 days of cataract surgery. RESULTS: A prescription for an NSAID was filled by 56.4% of patients. The prevalence of PME was 1.3% among those prescribed and 1.7% among those not prescribed NSAIDs. The number needed to treat was 320 patients to prevent 1 case of PME. A matched cohort analysis was performed to account for confounders. NSAID use was associated with a lower incidence of PME in patients without diabetes [relative risk (RR) 0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.58-0.72] and diabetics without retinopathy (RR 0.51, 95% CI 0.32-0.82). NSAID use was not associated with a change in the incidence of PME among patients with diabetic retinopathy (RR 1.06, 95% 0.81-1.38). CONCLUSION: Topical NSAIDs were associated with a modest reduction of PME incidence in patients undergoing cataract surgery; however, this relationship was not seen among those with diabetic retinopathy. The risk for PME is low and the number of patients benefiting from treatment is small.

Pathogens and antibiotic sensitivities in endophthalmitis.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic prophylaxis in cataract surgery is intended to minimize endophthalmitis. We describe pathogenic organisms, antibiotic sensitivities and antibiotic prophylaxis in culture-proven endophthalmitis cases. DESIGN: Retrospective consecutive case series and community-based setting were used. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred fifteen cases of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery performed during 2007-2012 in Kaiser Permanente, California. METHODS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Descriptive analysis of isolated organisms and antibiotic sensitivities in relation to antibiotic prophylaxis in culture-proven endophthalmitis cases. RESULTS: The majority of culture-confirmed organisms (n = 83) were Gram positive (96%), most notably coagulase-negative Staphylococci (n = 34, 52%), of which all that underwent testing were sensitive to vancomycin (n = 32). Among 19 cases that had received only topical antibiotic prophylaxis, seven (37%) were resistant to the antibiotic given: 50% of cases (5 of 10 isolates) that had received ofloxacin were resistant to this antibiotic, 40% (2 of 5 isolates) that had received gatifloxacin were resistant. In contrast, 100% of cases (n = 4) that had received aminoglycosides were susceptible. Few culture-confirmed cases occurred in patients who received intracameral antibiotic (n = 4). CONCLUSIONS: In cases where fluoroquinolones were administered as antibiotic prophylaxis, isolates demonstrated a degree of bacterial resistance. The majority of endophthalmitis cases isolated occured following topical antibiotic prophylaxis only and were attributed to Gram-positive organisms, while few occurred in association with intracameral antibiotic.

Comparative Effectiveness of Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Cataract Surgery.

PURPOSE: Intracameral injection is an effective method for preventing infection, but no controlled study has been published in the United States. DESIGN: We conducted an observational, longitudinal cohort study to examine the effect of topical and injected antibiotics on risk of endophthalmitis. PARTICIPANTS: We identified 315 246 eligible cataract procedures in 204 515 members of Kaiser Permanente, California, 2005-2012. METHODS: The study used information from the membership, medical, pharmacy, and surgical records from the electronic health record. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association of antibiotic prophylaxis (route and agent) with risk of endophthalmitis was estimated using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: We confirmed 215 cases of endophthalmitis (0.07% or 0.7/1000). Posterior capsular rupture was associated with a 3.68-fold increased risk of endophthalmitis (CI, 1.89-7.20). Intracameral antibiotic was more effective than topical agent alone (OR, 0.58; CI, 0.38-0.91). Combining topical gatifloxacin or ofloxacin with intracameral agent was not more effective than using an intracameral agent alone (compared with intracameral only: intracameral plus topical, OR, 1.63; CI, 0.48-5.47). Compared with topical gatifloxacin, prophylaxis using topical aminoglycoside was ineffective (OR, 1.97; CI, 1.17-3.31). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical complication remains a key risk factor for endophthalmitis. Intracameral antibiotic was more effective for preventing post-cataract extraction endophthalmitis than topical antibiotic alone. Topical antibiotic was not shown to add to the effectiveness of an intracameral regimen.

Vision loss among diabetics in a group model Health Maintenance Organization (HMO).

PURPOSE: To report the management of diabetic retinopathy in one group model health maintenance organization and assess the quality of care. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. A chart review of 1200 randomly identified patients with diabetes mellitus, continuously enrolled for 3 years in Kaiser Permanente (KP) Southern California, the largest provider of managed care in Southern California, was performed. A total of 1047 patients were included in the analyses. Patient characteristics as well as information from the last eye examination were abstracted. Charts from patients with visual acuity less than 20/200 in their better eye (legal blindness) were selected for extensive chart review to determine the cause of visual loss and the antecedent process of care. T tests or the Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare continuous variables. The chi(2) test or the Fisher exact test was used to compare categorical variables. All analyses were performed on the Statistical Analyses System (SAS Institute, North Carolina). RESULTS: Our study population of 1047 diabetic patients was 51.7% male, had a mean age of 60.4 years, a mean duration of diabetes of 9.6 years, and a mean hemoglobin A1c of 8.3%. During the study period, 77.5% of patients received a screening eye examination with examination by an ophthalmologist, an optometrist, or review of a retinal photograph. Of those with a visual acuity assessment (n = 687, 65.6% of 1047), 1.5% had visual acuity of 20/200 or worse (legally blind) in the better eye, while 8.2% had this level of visual acuity in the worse eye. Of eyes with new onset clinically significant macular edema and visual acuity < 20/40, 40% had documentation of focal laser performed within 1 month of diagnosis. Of eyes with vitreous hemorrhage and visual acuity < 20/40, 50% had documentation of vitrectomy. Among eyes that had vitrectomy, over 80% had this procedure within 1 year of diagnosis of vitreous hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: The current report is the largest study of diabetic retinopathy outcomes among patients enrolled in a prepaid health plan. Further research is necessary to investigate the impact of managed care on health outcomes.