The effect of surgical preparation technique on the bacterial load of surgical needles and suture material used during strabismus surgery

Endophthalmitis after strabismus surgery: incidence and outcome in relation to age, operated eye muscle, surgical technique, scleral perforation and immune state

PURPOSE

Identify risk factors for endophthalmitis after strabismus surgery (EASS) and relate these to incidence and outcome.

METHODS

Ophthalmologists, who had operated, diagnosed or treated EASS, completed a case record form with 71 questions in six domains: Preoperative, Surgery, Perforation, Postoperative, Outcome and Experts' opinion. To estimate the age-specific incidence per number of strabismus operations in the Netherlands during 1994-2013, the age distribution of Dutch cases was compared with the age-specific rates of strabismus surgery in the Dutch Registry of Strabismus Operations and with population data. Exploratory data analysis was performed. The immune state was evaluated in six patients. Five enucleated eyes were studied histopathologically.

RESULTS

None of the 26 patients (27 eyes with EASS) were between 9 and 65 years old, except for one patient with retinal haemorrhage followed by endophthalmitis. In the Netherlands during 1994-2013, the rate of EASS was approximately one per 11 000 strabismus operations, but one per 4300 for children aged 0-3 and one per 1000 for patients 65 and older. Endophthalmitis was diagnosed on postoperative day 1-4 in children aged 0-3. In all 15 children aged 0-5, the 16 affected eyes were phthisical, eviscerated or enucleated. The involved eye muscle had been recessed in 25 of 27 cases. It was a medial rectus in 15 of 16 children aged 0-6. It was a lateral (6), inferior (2) or medial (1) rectus in elderly. Scleral perforation went unnoticed in all children (no record in three) and in two of seven elderly (no record in two). Histopathology showed transscleral scarring compatible with scleral perforation in four patients but, in a two-year-old girl who had EASS together with a transient medial rectus palsy, the sclera underneath the former suture tract was not perforated but did contain the long posterior ciliary artery.

CONCLUSIONS

Endophthalmitis after strabismus surgery (EASS) affects children and elderly, with a grave outcome in young children. It occurs after recession of the medial rectus muscle in children, and it may occur without scleral perforation. Age and perforation are key determinants that interact with other factors that determine the occurrence and fulminance of EASS.

The Role of Topical Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Oculofacial Plastic Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Study

PURPOSE

The usefulness of topical antibiotic prophylaxis for routine oculofacial plastic surgery is not well established. Given concerns such as contact dermatitis, antibiotic resistance, and healthcare costs in conjunction with a low baseline rate of surgical site infections, the investigators sought to determine the frequency of infection with and without the use of topical antibiotic prophylaxis.

DESIGN

Randomized, controlled, unmasked clinical trial.

PARTICIPANTS

Adult patients undergoing routine periocular surgery without prior history of periocular surgical site infection, need for perioperative oral or parenteral antibiotics, or allergy to all study medications.

METHODS

Participants were randomized before surgery to receive either antibiotic or placebo (mineral oil and petrolatum-based) ointment after surgery. Outcomes were measured at the first postoperative visit. The 2-tailed Fisher exact test was used to compare outcomes between groups.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was the incidence of surgical site infections. The secondary outcomes included stratification of infections by patient risk characteristics, incidence of allergic contact dermatitis, and incidence of wound complications.

RESULTS

Four hundred one participants were enrolled and randomized, and 13 participants did not proceed with surgery or were lost to follow-up. High-risk features for infection were identified in 24% of the placebo group and 21% of the antibiotic group. Surgical site infections were more common in the placebo group (2.7% vs. 0.0%; P = 0.025). The rate of contact dermatitis was similar (0.5% vs. 0.5%; P = 1.00), as was the rate of wound dehiscence (2.7% vs. 3.5%; P = 0.77). Among the placebo group, the incidence of infections in the low- and high-risk participants was 2.9% and 2.2%, respectively. Infections were treated with oral or topical antibiotics and resolved without complication, except in 1 patient who required 2 subsequent surgeries to address the sequelae.

CONCLUSIONS

After routine oculofacial plastic surgery, patients treated with a topical antibiotic ointment showed a lower risk of surgical site infection compared with patients treated with a nonantibiotic ointment.

Strabismus Surgery Infection Prophylaxis and Timing of First Postoperative Visit

PURPOSE

To characterize the practice patterns of pediatric ophthalmologists regarding infection prophylaxis for strabismus surgery and timing of the first postoperative visit.

METHODS

A ten-question multiple-choice, close-ended questionnaire was e-mailed to members of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus listserv. Survey responses were summarized using frequencies and percentages. Univariable tests of association between prophylactic measures and surgeons reporting a prior episode of postoperative cellulitis or endophthalmitis were performed.

RESULTS

Three hundred eighty pediatric ophthalmologists completed the survey. Most ophthalmologists instill 5% povidone-iodine solution during surgical preparation (88.4%), use topical antibiotics with or without steroids at the conclusion of surgery (90%), and prescribe oral or topical antibiotics postoperatively (85.5%). Eighty-five percent of strabismus surgeons routinely see patients for the first postoperative visit within the first week, although there is no consensus as to which day is preferred. Responders previously reporting experience with a postoperative infection were more likely to use intraoperative intravenous antibiotics (P = .002) and Tegaderm tape (3M, St. Paul, MN) or other adhesive drape to isolate the eyelids/eyelashes (P = .047).

CONCLUSIONS

A common practice pattern appears to exist regarding the use of 5% povidone-iodine solution in surgical preparation, application of topical antibiotics at the end of surgery, and a postoperative regimen of topical antibiotics/steroids. There is no prevailing practice pattern regarding the timing of the first postoperative visit. Previous experience with postoperative cellulitis or endophthalmitis may lead to the adoption of more formidable infection prophylaxis measures such as intravenous antibiotics prior to surgery. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2019;56(6):354-359.].

Infection following strabismus surgery

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To provide the most up to date information on postoperative infection associated with strabismus surgery, its diagnosis, management, and prevention.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies show that topical povidone-iodide is effective in reducing the bacteria colony count at the incision site and preventing contamination during strabismus surgery. Repeating povidone-iodide 5% drops after surgical preparation and presoaking the sutures in povidone-iodide reduces bacterial contamination further. There is no single postoperative day that would be best to detect the onset of a postoperative infection. Infection can follow a normal postoperative visit.

SUMMARY

Infection continues to be a concerning complication of strabismus surgery. Early detection and treatment is needed to obtain a good outcome. Patients and their families should be educated on the early signs and symptoms of postoperative infection and to contact their ophthalmologist if any occur.

The effect of commonly used surgical solutions on the tensile strength of sutures

PURPOSE

To investigate the new practice of soaking sutures prior to use in strabismus surgery in an effort to avoid endophthalmitis.

METHODS

Specimens of 6-0 polyglactin suture were loaded in tension until failure occurred. Tests performed were without modification and after soaking in normal saline solution, 5% povidone-iodine solution, and 0.5% chloramphenicol solution for 30 minutes.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between the four groups with regard to mean force or type of solution used.

CONCLUSIONS

Soaking polyglactin sutures in various solutions used in strabismus surgery for 30 minutes had no effect on the tensile strength.

Incidence of presumed endophthalmitis after intravitreal injection performed in the operating room: a retrospective multicenter study

PURPOSE

To evaluate the incidence of presumed endophthalmitis (EO) after intravitreal injection (IVI) of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents performed in the operating room.

METHODS

Retrospective study at 2 Swiss eye hospitals between 2004 and 2012. Hospital records were used to identify patients treated with an IVI of an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agent between 2004 and 2012 and those treated for EO, defined as any intraocular inflammation treated with intravitreal antibiotics. All IVIs were performed using standard sterile technique in a Swiss Class 1 operating room. No patient received preinjection topical antibiotics. Postinjection topical antibiotics were used only in one hospital.

RESULTS

A total of 40,011 IVIs were performed at the 2 centers during the study period. Of the IVIs, ranibizumab was injected in 36,398 (91%), bevacizumab in 3,518 (9%), aflibercept in 89 (0.2%), and pegaptanib in 6 (<0.1%). Three cases of post-IVI presumed EO occurred, yielding a combined incidence of 0.0075% per injection (95% confidence interval: 0.0026-0.0220%) or 1 case per 13,337 IVIs. Two of the three cases of EO occurred in patients using post-IVI antibiotics. All three cases followed ranibizumab injection and were culture negative by anterior chamber tap or vitreous biopsy.

CONCLUSION

The risk of EO after IVI performed under the sterile conditions of the operating room was very low.

Bacterial Species and Surgical Sites Involved in Contamination During Strabismus Surgery

PURPOSE

Residual bacterial colonization of the eye after strabismus surgery is common. This study aimed to identify the bacterial pathogens and contaminated sites involved during strabismus surgery.

DESIGN

A prospective, case-control study of 44 patients aged 1-78 years who underwent strabismus surgery.

METHODS

Before participation, we received clinical research board approval, and informed consent was obtained from each of the patients or the parents. Five percent povidone-iodine was used to sterilize the surgical site in all cases. Intraoperative swabs were taken from conjunctival incision site, plain gut suture, scleral surgery site, Vicryl suture, and lid specula. Bacteria isolates were identified by culture growth and Gram staining. Positive and negative control samples were collected.

RESULTS

Samples from 13 (29.5%) of 44 cases were positive for growth of bacteria. The conjunctival incision site was involved in 9 cases (20.5%), and the lid speculum in 7 cases (15.9%). All 13 colonized plates grew the coagulase-negative Staphylococcus strain. Staphylococcus aureus was cultured in 1 case (2.3%) and was associated with the only case of postoperative infection. The S. aureus cultures came from both the conjunctival incision site and the lid speculum.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a high contamination rate of 29.5%, incidence of clinically significant infection was low. Our study suggests involvement of the eyelids and conjunctiva in harboring bacteria even after the use of povidone-iodine. Regardless of the mechanism of contamination, we should continue to focus our efforts on reducing intraoperative conjunctival bacterial load. Irregular tear film can contribute to postoperative complications.