Current infectious endophthalmitis rates after intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents and outcomes of treatment

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence and outcomes of infectious endophthalmitis after intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patient records at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (BPEI) from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2014, were reviewed. The largest commercial claims and encounters database in the U.S. (MarketScan) was utilized to calculate the population-based endophthalmitis rate for 2011 to 2013. RESULTS: The population-based rate of endophthalmitis after anti-VEGF injections for 2011 to 2013 was 391/740,757 (0.053%). BPEI's rate was 20/121,285 (0.016%) during the study period: eight after bevacizumab (0.012%), six after ranibizumab (0.018%), and six after aflibercept (0.031%) injection. Nine BPEI cases (45%) were culture-positive: Streptococcus species (5), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (3), and non-anthracis Bacillus (1). Final visual acuity varied from 20/25 to no light perception. CONCLUSION: Endophthalmitis after anti-VEGF injection was uncommon in our institution and in the population-based database. Treatment outcomes were variable but generally fared better in the culture-negative cases.