Efficacy of prophylactic intracameral antibiotic in preventing endophthalmitis after cataract surgery.

Purpose: To determine the impact of prophylactic intracameral cefuroxime administration on the post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis rates and analyze its safety.

Methods: The incidence of post-phacoemulsification endophthalmitis before and after the introduction of antibiotic prophylaxis with cefuroxime was compared. Data were extracted from the electronic medical records of patients who underwent cataract surgery between July 2019 and July 2022 at a tertiary-care hospital. Data were also collected from the Hospital Infection Control Service database. Statistical analysis was performed to assess the efficacy of cefuroxime prophylaxis in reducing endophthalmitis rates.

Results: Of the 4459 cataract surgeries included in the study, 2247 were included in the control group (pre-cefuroxime), and 2212 were included in the post-cefuroxime (ATB-P) Group. In the control group, 6 (0.13%) cases of endophthalmitis were reported. In the ATB-P Group, there were no cases of acute endophthalmitis. The frequency of endophthalmitis was significantly higher in the control group than in the ATB-P Group (p=0.016). Furthermore, Staphylococcus sp. was the most identified causative agent (75%). No adverse effects were reported after cefuroxime administration.

Conclusion: The introduction of intracameral prophylaxis with cefuroxime significantly reduced the incidence of post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis. Additionally, its administration is safe.