Nidhi Relhan

Vancomycin-resistant Gram-positive bacterial endophthalmitis: epidemiology, treatment options, and outcomes

BackgroundThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the microbiological profile and treatment outcomes of vancomycin-resistant Gram-positive bacterial endophthalmitis. Medical records of all patients with Gram-positive bacterial endophthalmitis resistant to vancomycin presenting between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2010 were reviewed in this noncomparative, consecutive, retrospective case series. Favorable outcome was defined as a best-corrected visual acuity of ≥20/200.ResultsOut of 682 culture-positive endophthalmitis isolates, 448/682 (65.6%) were associated with Gram-positive bacteria. In vitro resistance to vancomycin was noted in 7/448 (1.56%). Three cases were posttraumatic, three were postoperative, and one was endogenous in origin. Four Bacillus isolates, two Staphylococcus isolates, and an Enterococcus isolate were resistant. Isolates resistant to vancomycin were sensitive in vitro to ciprofloxacin in 6/7 (86%) patients. Presenting visual acuity was light perception in all seven cases. Favorable outcome was achieved in only 1/7 (14.3%) cases.ConclusionsVancomycin-resistant endophthalmitis is uncommon and usually associated with poor visual outcome. Bacillus sp. is the most frequent Gram-positive bacteria resistant to vancomycin. Fluoroquinolones like ciprofloxacin may be considered as a useful alternative in vancomycin-resistant endophthalmitis.

Intracameral Antibiotics and Cataract Surgery: Endophthalmitis Rates, Costs, and Stewardship.

Acute-onset postoperative endophthalmitis is a rare but vision-threatening complication of cataract surgery. The incidence rate varies substantially in the literature but is generally reported in the range of 0.03% to 0.2%. In the current issue of Ophthalmology, Creuzot-Garcher et al report a retrospective series of 6 371 242 phacoemulsification surgeries in which the rate of endophthalmitis declined from 0.145% to 0.053% over a 10-year period (see page XXX). During this timeframe, the use of intracameral antibiotics increased from 0.60% to 80.03%, and the investigators concluded that the intracameral antibiotics were responsible for these outcomes. These results are intriguing and illustrate the power of “Big

Endophthalmitis caused by Gram-positive organisms with reduced vancomycin susceptibility: Literature review and options for treatment

Background Endophthalmitis caused by Gram-positive organisms with reduced vancomycin susceptibility and/or resistance is an important clinical issue worldwide. Purpose To review the published literature on endophthalmitis caused by Gram-positive organisms with reduced vancomycin susceptibility and/or vancomycin resistance. Methods The data were analysed from a PubMed search of endophthalmitis cases caused by Gram-positive organisms with reported reduced vancomycin susceptibility and/or vancomycin resistance from 1990 to 2015. Results From 18 publications identified, a total of 27 endophthalmitis cases caused by Gram-positive organisms with reduced vancomycin susceptibility and/or vancomycin resistance were identified. The aetiologies of endophthalmitis were exogenous in 19/27 cases (11 post-cataract surgery, 2 post-penetrating keratoplasty, 1 post-glaucoma surgery, 4 post-open globe injury, 1 post-intravitreal injection of ranibizumab), and endogenous in 4/24 cases; no details were available about the four remaining patients. The causative organisms included Enterococcus species (7/27), coagulase-negative staphylococci (4/27), Staphylococcus aureus (4/27), Bacillus species (4/27), Streptococcus species (3/27), Leuconostoc species (3/27), Staphylococcus hominis (1/27), and unidentified Gram-positive cocci (1/27). Visual acuity of 20/400 or better at the final follow-up was recorded in 10/26 patients (38.5%; data were not available for one patient). Treatment options include fluoroquinolones, penicillin, cephalosporins, tetracyclines, and oxazolidinones. Conclusions In the current study, visual acuity outcomes were generally poor. Enterococcus and Staphylococcus species were the most common organisms reported and postoperative endophthalmitis after cataract surgery was the most common clinical setting.

Pharmacokinetics of intravitreal antibiotics in endophthalmitis

Intravitreal antibiotics are the mainstay of treatment in the management of infectious endophthalmitis. Basic knowledge of the commonly used intravitreal antibiotics, which includes their pharmacokinetics, half-life, duration of action and clearance, is essential for elimination of intraocular infection without any iatrogenic adverse effect to the ocular tissue. Various drugs have been studied over the past century to achieve this goal. We performed a comprehensive review of the antibiotics which have been used for intravitreal route and the pharmacokinetic factors influencing the drug delivery and safety profile of these antibiotics. Using online resources like PubMed and Google Scholar, articles were reviewed. The articles were confined to the English language only. We present a broad overview of pharmacokinetic concepts fundamental for use of intravitreal antibiotics in endophthalmitis along with a tabulated compendium of the intravitreal antibiotics using available literature. Recent advances for increasing bioavailability of antibiotics to the posterior segment with the development of controlled drug delivery devices are also described.

New Therapeutic Approaches in Diabetic Retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy is a common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. It affects a substantial proportion of US adults over age 40. The condition is a leading cause of visual loss. Much attention has been given to expanding the role of current treatments along with investigating various novel therapies and drug delivery methods. In the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME), intravitreal pharmacotherapies, especially anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents, have gained popularity. Currently, anti-VEGF agents are often used as first-line agents in center-involved DME, with recent data suggesting that among these agents, aflibercept leads to better visual outcomes in patients with worse baseline visual acuities. While photocoagulation remains the standard treatment for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), recent FDA approvals of ranibizumab and aflibercept in the management of diabetic retinopathy associated with DME may suggest a potential for pharmacologic treatments of PDR as well. Novel therapies, including small interfering RNAs, chemokines, kallikrein-kinin inhibitors, and various anti-angiogenic agents, are currently being evaluated for the management of diabetic retinopathy and DME. In addition to these strategies, novel drug delivery methods such as sustained-release implants and refillable reservoir implants are either under active evaluation or have recently gained FDA approval. This review provides an update on the novel developments in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.

Filamentous fungal endophthalmitis: results of combination therapy with intravitreal amphotericin B and voriconazole

Purpose To report outcomes of exogenous fungal endophthalmitis treated with combination of intravitreal antifungal agents. Design Retrospective, non-randomized, interventional, consecutive case series. Methods Twelve eyes of twelve consecutive cases of filamentous fungal endophthalmitis were treated with a combination of intravitreal amphotericin-B and intravitreal voriconazole (AmB-Vo Regime) along with pars plana vitrectomy at a single center. Clinical characteristics, microbiology results, treatment strategy, visual, and anatomical outcomes were analyzed. Results Ten cases out of the twelve were postoperative endophthalmitis of which nine were part of a post cataract surgery cluster. The remaining included endophthalmitis following keratitis post pterygium excision (1) and following open globe injury (2). The most common fungus was Aspergillus terreus, which was isolated in 8/12, followed by A. flavus in 2/12 and Fusarium solani in 1/12. The presenting visual acuity ranged from light perception (LP) to counting fingers. The visual acuity at final follow-up was 20/400 or better in 7/12 eyes (58.33%) and 20/60 in 2/12 eyes (range 20/60 to LP). All eyes with corneal involvement had final visual acuity 20/400 or worse. Globe salvage was achieved in all cases. Conclusion Combining intravitreal amphotericin-B and voriconazole could be a novel treatment strategy in the management of endophthalmitis caused by filamentous fungus. Eyes with corneal involvement had poor visual outcome either with or without therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty.

Endophthalmitis Prophylaxis in Cataract Surgery: Overview of Current Practice Patterns Around the World

BACKGROUND Acute-onset postoperative endophthalmitis after cataract surgery remains a rare but important cause of visual loss. There is no global consensus regarding the optimal strategies for prophylaxis of endophthalmitis and practices vary substantially around the world, especially with respect to the use of intracameral antibiotics. The European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons in a randomized clinical trial (2007) reported an approximately 5-fold reduction in endophthalmitis rates associated with the use of intracameral cefuroxime. Despite this report, the use of intracameral antibiotics has not been universally adopted. METHODS Various endophthalmitis prophylaxis patterns around the world (including the United States, Canada, Australia/New Zealand, Japan, China, India, Indonesia, South Africa, Argentina, Russia, Sweden and Mexico) are compared. Each contributing author was asked to provide similar information, including endophthalmitis rates based on published studies, current practice patterns, and in some cases original survey data. Various methods were used to obtain this information, including literature reviews, expert commentary, and some new survey data not previously published. RESULTS Many different practice patterns were reported from around the world, specifically with respect to the use of intracameral antibiotics. CONCLUSION There is no worldwide consensus regarding endophthalmitis prophylaxis with cataract surgery.

MICROBIOLOGIC SPECTRUM AND VISUAL OUTCOMES OF ACUTE-ONSET ENDOPHTHALMITIS UNDERGOING THERAPEUTIC PARS PLANA VITRECTOMY.

Purpose: To report the clinical presentation, microbiologic spectrum, and visual outcomes associated with acute-onset infectious endophthalmitis undergoing therapeutic pars plana vitrectomy. Methods: Multicenter interventional retrospective noncomparative consecutive case series. Billing records were reviewed to identify all charts for patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy within 14 days of diagnosis of acute-onset infectious endophthalmitis over a 4-year period at 5 large tertiary referral retina practices. Statistical analysis was performed to assess for factors associated with visual outcomes. Results: Seventy patients were identified. The most common clinical setting was postcataract surgery (n = 20). Only 3 patients (4.3%) presented with 20/400 or better visual acuity (VA). Although most of the patients initially underwent vitreous tap and intravitreal antibiotic injection (n = 47, 67.1%), all patients eventually underwent pars plana vitrectomy within 14 days of presentation with 68.5% (48/70) of patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy within 48 hours of presentation. Positive intraocular cultures were obtained in 56 patients (80%). The most common identified organism was Streptococcus sp (n = 19). Visual acuity at last follow-up was 20/400 or better in 19 patients (27.1%). Three patients underwent evisceration or enucleation (4.3%). Last recorded postoperative VA (mean LogMAR 1.99 ± 0.94, Snellen VA equivalent finger count) improved from presenting VA (mean LogMAR 2.37 ± 0.38, Snellen VA hand motions) (P ⩽ 0.001). There was no statistically significant correlation between the underlying etiology or the timing of surgery with this VA outcome. Conclusion: Although less than one-third of patients achieved 20/400 or better VA, this VA often improved significantly from presenting VA.

A New Complication Associated with the Use of Prophylactic Intracameral Antibiotics: Hemorrhagic Occlusive Retinal Vasculitis

Given the substantial increase in antimicrobial resistance among ocular pathogens worldwide, evidence-based strategies are needed to carefully analyze the risks and benefits of routine prophylactic intracameral antibiotics for prevention of infection in cataract surgery. In ophthalmology, 2 basic issues are debated frequently: (1) the effectiveness of intracameral antibiotics in lowering rates of endophthalmitis in association with cataract surgery and (2) the use of vancomycin as a prophylactic antibiotic. Intracameral antibiotics during cataract surgery, although used in some parts of the world, remain controversial. Prophylactic antibiotics are associated with increased costs, risks to the individual patient, and risks to the population at large, by contributing to the emergence of drug-resistant or-

A case of vasculitis, retinitis and macular neurosensory detachment presenting post typhoid fever

BackgroundOcular and extraocular immune-mediated phenomena are known to occur following febrile illness. Vasculitis, retinitis and neurosensory detachment are not well-recognized sequelae of typhoid fever.FindingsWe report a case of vasculitis, retinitis and macular neurosensory detachment presenting post typhoid fever. A 27-year-old female presented with decreased vision in right eye with history of typhoid fever (treated adequately 6 weeks prior). Her best corrected visual acuity in right eye was 20/125, N36. Fundus showed a patch of vasculitis and retinitis superior to the disc associated with macular neurosensory detachment and disc pallor. With oral steroids, the inflammation resolved and visual acuity improved to 20/20 at 6 weeks.ConclusionsImmune-mediated vasculitis and retinitis following typhoid fever may respond well to systemic steroids.