Intracameral cefazolin as prophylaxis against endophthalmitis in cataract surgery.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic intracameral cefazolin in preventing endophthalmitis in cataract surgery.

SETTING

Service of Ophthalmology, St. Joan Hospital, Reus, Spain.

METHODS

In this noncontrolled retrospective observational study, all patients had uncombined cataract surgery from January 2001 to December 2004. All cases of postoperative endophthalmitis were related. The patients were classified into 2 groups. The first (n = 3650) had surgery between January 2001 and December 2002, and the second (n = 3618) had surgery between January 2003 and December 2004; the second group received a bolus of intracameral cefazolin instilled at the end of surgery.

RESULTS

The rate of postoperative endophthalmitis was lower in the cases with intracameral injection at the end of surgery (0.055%) than in those without cefazolin injection (0.63%). No patients in the group with intracameral cefazoline developed corneal endothelium or retinal toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

Intracameral bolus injection of cefazolin (1 mg in 0.1 mL solution) in cataract surgery demonstrated prophylactic efficacy in diminishing the rate of postoperative endophthalmitis without toxic effects on the cornea or retina.