Urgent Vitrectomy with Vancomycin Infusion, Silicone Oil Endotamponade, and General Antibiotic Treatment in Multiple Cases of Endophthalmitis from a Single Day of Intravitreal Injections—Case Series

Abstract

The aim of this study was to report on the anatomical and functional results of surgical management of seven cases of endophthalmitis related to a single day of intravitreal aflibercept injections. Patients with signs of endophthalmitis who underwent aflibercept injections (seven eyes) performed on the same day were retrospectively evaluated. The data of visual acuity and optical coherence tomography (OCT) within nine months of the follow-up and the treatment and results of microbiological cultures are reported. Four of the total seven cases had a positive bacterial culture outcome (Streptococcus mitis). All patients underwent vitrectomy combined with phacoemulsification when the eyes were not pseudophakic, vancomycin infusion, and silicone oil tamponade within 24 h; additionally, systemic antibiotics were administered intravenously. The final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after the treatment was finger counting or light perception in all cases, and all eyes were saved with disruption of the inner retinal layers and stabilization of the retina in regard to changes related to the wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Although the retinal anatomy was mostly preserved, most of the patients affected by Streptococcus mitis-induced endophthalmitis did not regain baseline vision after the therapy.