AbstractEndophthalmitis is not a “never event” following cataract surgery or intravitreal injection, therefore the occurrence of endophthalmitis does not necessarily imply a break in technique or that the surgeon somehow “did something wrong”. Endophthalmitis cannot be prevented, but its rate can be reduced using evidence‐based measures. Endophthalmitis prophylaxis techniques include more than the use of antibiotics; specifically, prep/drape, speculum use, wound construction, etc.In the US, intracameral antibiotics are not universally used. The decision to use routine intracameral antibiotics appears to depend on many “non‐medical” factors, including internal health system policies, local standards of care, and other concerns. In the US, there is no packaged antibiotic that is specifically approved for intracameral use so all such agents are used “off‐label”; this factor appears to be suppressing the use of intracameral antibiotics at least in some locations.In the US, intravitreal injections are almost always performed in the clinic rather than in an operating room or similar setting. (In fact, it can be difficult to get reimbursed for anti‐VEGF drugs injected in an operating room.) Many practices use a standard examination room rather than a minor procedure room or a room dedicated to performing injections. Eyelid speculums are very widely used, although there is a growing acceptance of the use of bimanual retraction from a skilled assistant, rather than an eyelid speculum. In many practices, topical antibiotics are not used.It is the author's opinion (although there is little or no evidence from randomized clinical trials to support this opinion) that post‐surgical endophthalmitis differs from post‐injection endophthalmitis in how the microorganisms gain access to the intraocular space. Following cataract surgery, it seems most likely that microorganisms enter the eye through the incision in the postoperative period; this would explain the relatively later onset of infection, as well as the apparent benefits of postoperative topical antibiotics, proper wound construction, and suturing the incision when necessary. Following intravitreal injection, it seems most likely that microorganisms enter the eye at the moment of the injection; this would explain the relatively sooner onset of infection, as well as the apparent lack of benefit of postoperative topical antibiotics.
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