Post-Cataract Surgery Endophthalmitis Prophylaxis Survey in Thai Ophthalmologists

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Infectious Disease Prevention
• Surgical Safety

Background:

• Endophthalmitis is a severe complication following cataract surgery.
• Standardized perioperative practices are crucial for minimizing endophthalmitis risk.
• Current practice patterns in Thailand require evaluation to align with global recommendations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine current perioperative practice patterns for endophthalmitis prevention after cataract surgery in Thailand.
• To identify variations in practice among different ophthalmologist subspecialties.

Main Methods:

• A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted using an online questionnaire.
• The questionnaire covered 21 preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative measures for endophthalmitis prevention.
• Data from 426 certified ophthalmologists were analyzed, with subgroup analyses comparing general ophthalmologists, retina/uveitis specialists, and other subspecialists.

Main Results:

• Preoperative topical and oral antibiotic use was low (21.1% and 4.9%, respectively).
• 10% povidone-iodine was the most common skin antiseptic (72.3%), and 54.7% used intracameral antibiotics.
• Postoperative topical antibiotics were nearly universal (99.5%), with moxifloxacin being the preferred agent for topical and intracameral use. Retina/uveitis specialists showed higher adherence to povidone-iodine skin prep and fornix antiseptic use.

Conclusions:

• Most Thai ophthalmologists adhere to international guidelines for endophthalmitis prevention.
• Certain recommended practices for preventing post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis are underutilized.
• Standardization of national practice patterns is needed to optimize surgical outcomes and further reduce endophthalmitis rates.