DILUTE POVIDONE-IODINE PROPHYLAXIS MAINTAINS SAFETY WHILE IMPROVING PATIENT COMFORT AFTER INTRAVITREAL INJECTIONS

To report the rates of postintravitreal injection (IVT) endophthalmitis with topical conjunctival application of various concentrations of povidone-iodine (PI), including no PI.

Retrospective chart review of patients receiving IVTs performed in a single practice between January 2011 and June 2016. Concentration of PI for all injections was recorded and cases of endophthalmitis identified and reviewed.

A total of 35,060 IVTs in 1854 patients were included from the 5.5-year period. 29,281 injections were performed with standard 5% PI, 5,460 injections with diluted PI (3,731 with 2.5%, 1,673 with 1.25%, 56 with 0.625%), and 319 IVTs with no PI. Incidence of patient-reported PI sensitivity occurred in 15.9% of patients. Fourteen cases of endophthalmitis were identified: 12 in eyes that received 5% PI, one in an eye that received 1.25% PI, and one in an eye receiving no PI. The incidence of endophthalmitis was 0.04% for 5% PI, 0.02% for dilute PI, and 0.31% for no PI prophylaxis. All cases underwent prompt vitrectomy and had positive cultures for coagulase-negative Staphylococcus.

Application of dilute PI solution to the conjunctiva at the time of IVT is an effective alternative to 5% PI for endophthalmitis prophylaxis in betadine-sensitive patients.