Resistance to Antibiotics in Patients Receiving Eye Injections

The administration of short courses of topical antibiotic drops before and/or after intravitreal injections is a common practice, but increasing evidence suggests this may not lower the risk of infectious endophthalmitis and could increase rates of antimicrobial resistance. The purpose of the present study is to determine the antimicrobial resistance profiles in patients who have received numerous (≥ 20) courses of antibiotics for intravitreal injection compared with untreated controls. This study compares 20 control patients without prior intravitreal injection to 20 patients who have undergone ≥ 20 prior intravitreal injections accompanied by a course of topical antibiotics for two days before and/or after the injection procedure. The lower, inner eyelid and nasal cavity were cultured and evaluated via disk diffusion method for antimicrobial sensitivity.