METHOD OF POVIDONE-IODINE APPLICATION AND ENDOPHTHALMITIS RISK

To evaluate the proportion of patients developing endophthalmitis after intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents according to the mode of povidone-iodine (PI) antisepsis.

A retrospective review of the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections given in a 7-year period at a community-based retinal practice. Endophthalmitis was diagnosed to have occurred if an eye developed intraocular inflammation and was given antibiotics with or without supportive culture identification of an organism. As part of their habitual clinical practice, component physicians used 5% PI as two drops, one drop, or just a dot of PI administered with a cotton-tipped applicator to the site before injection.

There were 113,610 intravitreal injections administered and 23 cases were diagnosed with endophthalmitis over the 7-year period, for a rate of 1 case per 4,940 injections. The mode of PI antisepsis showed no significant relation to the rate of endophthalmitis ( P = 0.55, chi-square test). The proportion of endophthalmitis by physician demonstrated no significant difference ( P = 0.39, chi-square test).

The use of PI has been associated with decreased incidence of endophthalmitis, but the mode of application has not been standardized. The results of this study suggest that "more is not better" in PI antisepsis in endophthalmitis. Moreover, the toxicity of PI on the ocular surface is known to be dose-related.