Subconjunctival antibiotics for acute postcataract extraction endophthalmitis—is it necessary?

Abstract

PurposeTo evaluate the efficacy of adjunctive subconjunctival antibiotic injection in the treatment of acute postcataract extraction endophthalmitis. DesignRetrospective cohort study. MethodsPatients who presented with hand motions or better vision and received subconjunctival antibiotics (SC+ group) were compared with those who did not (SC− group) in the treatment of acute postoperative endophthalmitis. ResultsThe rate of obtaining a final vision of 20/40 or better was 60% in the SC+ group (n = 25) compared with 72% in the SC− group (n = 18) (P = .69), and the mean change in logMAR was –1.36 (improvement) versus –1.34 (P = .93). Based on a linear regression model controlling for presenting vision, there was no statistical difference in the mean logMAR change between the two groups (P = .73). ConclusionSubconjunctival antibiotic injection as an adjunct to intravitreal antibiotics was unassociated with treatment benefit in patients with acute postoperative endophthalmitis presenting with vision of hand motions or better.