Use of Intravenous Vancomycin and Cefepime in Preventing Endophthalmitis After Open Globe Injury

The choice and route of antibiotic prophylaxis in the setting of open globe injury remains controversial. We investigated the utility of intravenous vancomycin and cefepime prophylaxis in preventing endopthalmitis after open globe injury.

The charts of 224 patients who presented to Parkland Memorial Hospital and Children's Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, between June 1, 2009 and June 30, 2013, with open globe injury and who were treated with prophylactic intravenous vancomycin and cefepime were retrospectively reviewed. Data collection included time from injury to presentation, mechanism of injury, details of ophthalmological examination, timing of open globe repair, and length of follow-up. All patients were treated with intravenous vancomycin and cefepime for 48 h after presentation.

The primary outcome measure was rate of endophthalmitis, and the secondary outcome measure was identification of risk factors for developing endophthalmitis. Out of 224 patients who presented after open globe injury, 3 patients had signs of endophthalmitis on initial exam before starting antibiotics, and 2 patients developed endophthalmitis after initiation of vancomycin and cefepime (0.9%). Delayed time from injury to presentation was a risk factor for post-traumatic endophthalmitis (P = 0.0002). The association between presence of intraocular foreign body and post-traumatic endophthalmitis was approaching significance (P = 0.064).

When intravenous vancomycin and cefepime are used prophylactically after open globe injury, the rate of endophthalmitis is low.