Comparative analysis of the safety and efficacy of intracameral cefuroxime, moxifloxacin and vancomycin at the end of cataract surgery: a meta-analysis

Unilateral acute iris depigmentation and transillumination after glaucoma surgery with mitomycin application and intracameral moxifloxacin

Purpose

Bilateral acute iris depigmentation (BADI) and transillumination (BATI) syndromes have been linked with the use of antibiotics, especially fluoroquinolones. They are characterized by acute onset of pigment dispersion in the anterior chamber, depigmentation of the iris and pigment deposition in the angle and in the posterior surface of the cornea (BADI), with iris transillumination defects and atonic pupil with sphincter paralysis (BATI). The purpose of this paper is to report the development of clinical depigmentation and iris damage similar to BADI and BATI in patients who had undergone uneventful glaucoma surgery with intracameral moxifloxacin as prophylaxis for endophthalmitis.

Observations

Four patients who had undergone Ex-Press implantation (cases 1 and 2) or non-penetrating deep sclerotomy (cases 3 and 4) developed asymptomatic pigment dispersion in the anterior chamber, which cleared after treatment with topical corticosteroids and NSAIDS. However, pupillary damage ensued, with mid-midriasis and pigment deposition under the filtration bleb.

Conclusions and importance

This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of acute unilateral iris depigmentation and transillumination after intracameral use of moxifloxacin. Moxifloxacin's toxic effect may have been promoted by the subconjuntival mitomycin employed to prevent scarring at the filtration bleb. Surgeons should be aware of these potential side-effects of drugs used as widely as moxifloxacin and mitomycin.

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Moxifloxacin is widely used as prophylaxis for endophthalmitis after cataract surgery.

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Bilateral acute iris depigmentation and transillumination syndromes have been reported after the use of antibiotics.

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We report four cases of similar syndromes in patients undergoing glaucoma surgery after intracameral moxifloxacin.

Rapid and progressive decline despite early intervention in a case of bilateral hemorrhagic occlusive retinal vasculitis

Purpose

To present a case of severe bilateral hemorrhagic occlusive retinal vasculitis (HORV) after uncomplicated cataract surgery with intracameral vancomycin. We present a report of a single patient with bilateral presentation of HORV that demonstrated classic features of the disease and progressed to profound vision loss despite early and aggressive intervention.

Observations

On initial presentation, the patient had good Snellen visual acuity of 20/25 PH 20/20 OD and 20/60 PH 20/30 OS with retinal hemorrhages in both eyes and sub-hyaloid hemorrhage in the left eye. Early therapeutic intervention with intravitreal corticosteroids, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents and oral steroids was pursued. Even with treatment, the clinical picture rapidly deteriorated with progression of occlusive and hemorrhagic complications in both eyes resulting in bilateral ischemic retinopathy and breakthrough vitreous hemorrhage. After a prolonged course of treatment including the aforementioned along with panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) in both eyes and vitreoretinal surgery in the left eye, the final visual acuity was light perception (LP) OD and 20/100 OS.

Conclusions and importance

Hemorrhagic occlusive retinal vasculitis remains a feared complication of uncomplicated cataract surgery utilizing intracameral vancomycin. Despite early recognition and appropriate intervention, our patient still had a poor visual outcome with significant ischemic damage.

Toxic anterior segment syndrome: A review

Toxic anterior segment syndrome is a surgical complication characterized by a noninfectious anterior chamber inflammatory reaction having multiple etiologies. The clinical signs (prominent limbus-to-limbus corneal edema, anterior chamber inflammation) and symptoms (decreased visual acuity, discomfort) generally occur within the first 12-48 hours after intraocular surgery. Most patients achieve good clinical and visual outcomes when there is a prompt clinical diagnosis and adequate treatment. We review the literature on toxic anterior segment syndrome, emphasizing its etiology, pathophysiology, and clinical and surgical management, as well as prognosis and sequelae. Our goal is to reduce the frequency of toxic anterior segment syndrome by highlighting the importance of prevention, early recognition, and distinguishing toxic anterior segment syndrome from infectious endophthalmitis.

Safety and efficacy of intracameral moxifloxacin for prevention of post-cataract endophthalmitis: Randomized controlled clinical trial

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intracameral (IC) 0.5% moxifloxacin in the prevention of post-cataract endophthalmitis.

SETTING

University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.

DESIGN

Prospective randomized partially masked single-site clinical trial.

METHODS

Patients who had phacoemulsification were randomized into two groups in block sizes of 4. Group A (moxifloxacin group) consisted of patients who received an IC injection of 0.03 mL (150 μg) of undiluted 0.5% moxifloxacin at the end of surgery. Group B (control group) consisted of patients who received no IC medication. The postoperative prescription for both groups consisted of 0.5% moxifloxacin and 0.1% dexamethasone. Patients were monitored for 6 weeks after surgery. The primary outcome was the incidence of acute endophthalmitis in each group. Secondary outcomes were corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), endothelial cell density (ECD), intraocular pressure (IOP), and central corneal thickness (CCT).

RESULTS

The study comprised 3640 eyes from 3640 patients. There were 1818 patients in Group A and 1822 patients in Group B. The incidence of endophthalmitis within 6 weeks of follow-up was 1 (0.05%) of 1818 eyes in the moxifloxacin group and 7 (0.38%) of 1822 eyes in the control group (P = .035). There was no significant difference in CDVA (P = .202), ECD (P = .482), IOP (P = .105), or CCT (P = .558). No ocular or systemic study-related adverse events were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The IC injection of undiluted 0.5% moxifloxacin can be safely applied as the last step of phacoemulsification. It was found to be effective in reducing the risk for endophthalmitis. This study represents the first controlled randomized clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of IC moxifloxacin in the prevention of post-cataract endophthalmitis.

Endophthalmitis following cataract surgery and intracameral antibiotic: Moxifloxacin resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis

Purpose

To describe an immunosuppressed patient who developed acute-onset postoperative endophthalmitis caused by a moxifloxacin-resistant strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis after cataract surgery despite the use of intracameral moxifloxacin.

Observations

A 76-year old woman with a history of birdshot chorioretinopathy controlled on systemic immunosuppression underwent uneventful cataract surgery in her right eye. Compounded intracameral moxifloxacin 0.2 cc of 1mg/0.1mL (Edge Pharmacy, Syracuse, NY) was injected intraoperatively as prophylaxis, and the patient was placed on a standard regimen of trimethoprim-polymyxin b (10000-0.1unit/mL) and prednisolone acetate 1% postoperatively. Four days later, the patient experienced a sudden decrease in vision in the right eye. Anterior chamber inflammation, vitritis, and vasculitis were seen in the operated eye. The patient underwent a vitreous tap and intravitreal injections of vancomycin (1mg/0.1mL), ceftazidime (2.25mg/0.1mL), and dexamethasone (0.4mg/0.1mL). Cultures grew Staphylococcus epidermidis, resistant to moxifloxacin (MIC ≥8mg/L). The inflammation resolved over two months. Eight months later, the patient underwent uncomplicated cataract surgery in the left eye. Intracameral antibiotics were not used, however her systemic immunosuppressive therapy was held for several weeks perioperatively. One year after the initial surgeries, the patient had an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/20 in each eye.

Conclusions and Importance

S. epidermidis, the most common cause of postoperative endophthalmitis, is increasingly resistant to fluoroquinolones. Adequate concentrations of intracameral antibiotics need to be achieved in order to exceed minimal inhibitory concentration values of the targeted pathogen. Although intracameral moxifloxacin has been reported to decrease the rate of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery, it does not eliminate the risk.

The Routine Use of Intracameral Antibiotics to Prevent Endophthalmitis After Cataract Surgery: How Good is the Evidence?

Post-operative endophthalmitis (POE) following cataract surgery is an uncommon, vision-threatening complication that has been reported to occur at rates of between approximately 0.03% and 0.2%. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of endophthalmitis is critical for minimizing vision loss, but most recent efforts have focused on the prophylactic administration of antibiotics to prevent the development of endophthalmitis. Surgeons from around the world have different topical and intracameral antibiotic usage patterns to prevent endophthalmitis, and to date no general consensus regarding best practice has emerged. Several studies have reported on the routine use of intracameral cefuroxime, moxifloxacin, and vancomycin, including a single randomized clinical trial by the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ESCRS) in 2007. These studies have notable shortcomings, but many authors suggest that intracameral cefuroxime together with topical antibiotics probably decreases the risk of endophthalmitis. However, the deleterious effects of routine prophylactic antibiotics, which include toxicity, cost, and increasing antimicrobial resistance, among others, are noteworthy. In contrast, aseptic technique with pre-operative instillation of povidone-iodine remains the only technique supported by level I evidence to reduce the incidence of endophthalmitis. Although the routine use of intracameral antibiotics continues to increase throughout the world, data from multicenter, randomized, prospective trials is needed to provide better guidance regarding the prophylactic use of antibiotics.

A Review of Antimicrobial Therapy for Infectious Uveitis of the Posterior Segment

Treatment of infectious posterior uveitis represents a therapeutic challenge for ophthalmologists. The eye is a privileged site, maintained by blood ocular barriers, which limits penetration of systemic antimicrobials into the posterior segment. In addition, topical and subconjunctival therapies are incapable of producing sufficient drug concentrations, intraocularly. Posterior infectious uveitis can be caused by bacteria, virus, fungi, or protozoa. Mode of treatment varies greatly based on the infectious etiology. Certain drugs have advantages over others in the treatment of infectious uveitis. Topical and systemic therapies are often employed in the treatment of ocular infection, yet the route of treatment can have limitations based on penetration, concentration, and duration. The introduction of intravitreal antimicrobial therapy has advanced the management of intraocular infections. Being able to bypass blood-ocular barriers allows high drug concentrations to be delivered directly to the posterior segment with minimal systemic absorption. However, because the difference between the therapeutic and the toxic doses of some antimicrobial drugs falls within a narrow concentration range, intravitreal therapy could be associated with ocular toxicity risks. In many cases of infectious uveitis, combination of intravitreal and systemic therapies are necessary. In this comprehensive review, the authors aimed at reviewing clinically relevant data regarding intraocular and systemic antimicrobial therapy for posterior segment infectious uveitis. The review also discussed the evolving trends in intraocular treatment, and elaborated on antibiotic pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, efficacy, and adverse effects.