Delayed-Onset Endophthalmitis after Intravitreal Aflibercept Injection

Ali Akbarzadeh; Masoud Rahimi; Amin Zand; Khalil Ghasemi Falavarjani

doi:10.4103/joco.joco_134_22

Delayed-Onset Endophthalmitis after Intravitreal Aflibercept Injection

J Curr Ophthalmol. 2023 Dec 21;35(2):195-198. doi: 10.4103/joco.joco_134_22. eCollection 2023 Apr-Jun.

Authors

Ali Akbarzadeh¹, Masoud Rahimi¹, Amin Zand¹, Khalil Ghasemi Falavarjani^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Eye Research Center, The Five Senses Health Institute, Rassoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
² Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Purpose: To describe delayed-onset infectious endophthalmitis 4 months after intravitreal aflibercept injection.

Methods: An 80-year-old female was referred with signs and symptoms of clinical endophthalmitis 4 months after intravitreal injection of aflibercept for choroidal neovascularization. Noninfectious causes of panuveitis were excluded and she was diagnosed with delayed-onset postinjection infectious endophthalmitis. Vitreous and aqueous specimens were prepared and antibiotics (vancomycin and ceftazidime) were injected intravitreally.

Results: Vitreous culture was positive for Staphylococcus epidermidis. During the 1^st month after the antibiotic injections, symptoms and signs of the patient improved and became stable during the 6-month follow-ups.

Conclusions: Delayed-onset infectious endophthalmitis can be presented following intravitreal injections. Late presentation of uveitis in postinjected eyes needs complete investigations to rule out infectious endophthalmitis as an ophthalmic emergency.

Keywords: Aflibercept; Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor; Chronic; Delayed onset; Infectious endophthalmitis; Intravitreal injection.

Publication types

Case Reports