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Br J Ophthalmol 2008;92:1051-1054 doi:10.1136/bjo.2007.136069
  • Original Article
    • Clinical science

Increased incidence of sterile endophthalmitis following intravitreal preserved triamcinolone acetonide

  1. J Jonisch1,
  2. J C Lai1,2,
  3. V A Deramo1,2,
  4. A J Flug1,
  5. D M Fastenberg1,2
  1. 1
    Department of Ophthalmology, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Great Neck, NY, USA
  2. 2
    Long Island and Queens Vitreo-Retinal Consultants, Great Neck, NY, USA
  1. Dr J C Lai, 98-1079 Moanualua Rd, Suite 470, Aiea, HI 96701, USA; jimretina{at}yahoo.com
  • Accepted 25 April 2008

Abstract

Aim: To report an increased incidence of sterile endophthalmitis following intravitreal injection of preserved triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) from 1 May to 31 July 2006.

Methods: Charts were reviewed for all patients who underwent IVTA injections between 1 January 2005 and 31 July 2006 at the offices of a referral vitreo-retinal practice. Patients were included if they presented post-IVTA with a clinical picture consistent with endophthalmitis.

Results: Between 1 January 2005 and 31 July 2006, 554 eyes underwent IVTA. Eleven eyes (1.9%) developed an endophthalmitis. All eleven eyes underwent vitreous tap and intravitreal injection of antibiotics. All cultures and gram stains were negative for bacterial or fungal organisms. From 1 May to 31 July 2006, 97 eyes underwent IVTA. Nine eyes (9.3%) developed sterile endophthalmitis. This represented a statistically significant (p<0.0001) clustering of cases. Triamcinolone acetonide phials from affected lot numbers were analysed and were all found to be negative for bacterial endotoxin (<0.05 EU/ml).

Conclusion: Over the 19-month period analysed, 11 cases of sterile endophthalmitis occurred following IVTA, and nine of these cases were clustered over a 3-month period. No endotoxin was detected in the phials tested. The aetiology of this increased incidence of sterile endophthalmitis is still unclear.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Ethics approval: The North Shore-Long Island Jewish University Hospital System institutional review board approved the study protocol.

  • Patient consent: Obtained.

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