[Preventive chemo-antibiotic treatment of postoperative endophthalmitis in planned open eyeball surgery. Apropos of 2,337 cases].

A protocol combining chemoprophylaxis and antibioprophylaxis has been used since January 1st, 1990 for all patients (2,337 cases) undergoing planned open eyeball surgery (except emergencies). The chemoprophylaxis is local, by eyedrops (picloxidin) during the days before surgery, and by eyewash of the conjunctival cul-de-sac with iodized polyvidone immediately before surgery. The systemic antibioprophylaxis associates two bactericidal antibiotics with a wide spectrum and good intraocular penetration, active on 89 to 90% of the bacteria incriminated in postoperative endophthalmitis: a ureidopenicillin, piperacillin, and a fluoroquinolone, ciprofloxacin; the adverse effects are minimal. Although the sample size does not allow statistical, analysis the results of this study (the absence of any endophthalmitis) are very encouraging in comparison with those of the literature, those of the same department during the years before the protocol, and those of the other departments in the same hospital which carry out the same surgery under the same conditions.