Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2025
Author Spotlight: A Novel Protocol for Intracameral Injections to Enhance Precision in Rodent Ophthalmology
Published on: May 31, 2024
Topical antibiotic prophylaxis before intravitreal injections: a pilot study
Edoardo Trovato Battagliola1, Rodolfo Javier Riveros Cabral2, Gregorio Manco1
1Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza" University of Rome, Policlinico Umberto I, Viale, del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Purpose:
To explore whether topical antibiotic prophylaxis in patients scheduled for intravitreal injections achieves surface sterility in a greater proportion of subjects as compared to povidone-iodine alone.
Material And Methods:
A randomized, triple-blind clinical trial.
Population:
patients scheduled for intravitreal injections for maculopathy.
Inclusion Criteria:
any sex and race, age 18 years and above. Subjects were randomized into 4 groups: the first group applied chloramphenicol (CHLORAM), the second netilmicin (NETILM), the third a commercial ozonized antiseptic solution (OZONE), and the fourth applied no drops (CONTROL).
Outcome Variable:
percentage of non-sterile conjunctival swabs. Specimens were collected before and after the application of 5% povidone-iodine moments before the injection.
Results:
Ninety-eight subjects (33.7% females, 64.3% males), mean age: 70.2 ± 9.3 years (54-91). Before povidone-iodine, both the CHLORAM and NETILM group showed a lower percentage of non-sterile swabs (61.1% and 31.3% respectively), as compared to the OZONE (83.3%) and CONTROL (86.5%) groups (p < .04). However, this statistical difference was lost after the application of povidone-iodine for 3 min. Percentage of non-sterile swabs in each group after applying 5% povidone-iodine: CHLORAM 11.1%, NETILM 12.5%, CONTROL 15.4%, OZONE 25.0%. This was not statistically significant (p > .05).
Conclusions:
Topical antibiotic prophylaxis with chloramphenicol or netilmicin drops decreases the bacterial load on the conjunctiva. However, after the application of povidone-iodine, all groups showed a significant reduction in the percentage of non-sterile swabs, and this value was comparable among all groups. For this reason, authors conclude that povidone-iodine alone is sufficient and prior topical antibiotic prophylaxis is not indicated.
