Risk of Endophthalmitis Based on Cumulative Number of Anti-VEGF Intravitreal Injections

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the risk of endophthalmitis in eyes undergoing intravitreal injections (IVIs) of anti-VEGF based on cumulative number of injections per eye.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Participants: Patients from a single center undergoing IVIs of ranibizumab, aflibercept, or bevacizumab.

Methods: Eyes were divided into quartiles based on injection number causative of endophthalmitis between January 1, 2011, and June 1, 2022.

Main outcome measures: Interquartile clinical outcomes and cumulative risk of endophthalmitis per injection and per eye.

Results: A total of 43 393 eyes received 652 421 anti-VEGF injections resulting in 231 endophthalmitis cases (0.035% per injection, 1 in 2857), of which 215 were included. The cumulative endophthalmitis risk increased from 0.0018% (1 in 55 556) after 1 injection to 0.013% (1 in 7692) after 11 injections (0.0012 percentage point change), versus 0.014% (1 in 7143) after 12 injections to 0.025% (1 in 4000) after 35 injections (0.00049 percentage point change), versus 0.025% (1 in 4000) after 36 injections to 0.031% (1 in 3226) after 66 injections (0.00017 percentage point change), versus 0.031% (1 in 3226) after 63 injections to 0.033% (1 in 3030) after 126 injections (0.000042 percentage point change) (P < 0.001). Likewise, the cumulative endophthalmitis risk per eye increased from 0.028% (1 in 3571) to 0.20% (1 in 500) between injections 1 and 11 (0.018 percentage point change), versus 0.21% (1 in 476) to 0.38% (1 in 263) between injections 12 and 35 (0.0075 percentage point change), versus 0.38% (1 in 263) to 0.46% (1 in 217) between injections 36 and 66 (0.0026 percentage point change), versus 0.46% (1 in 217) to 0.50% (1 in 200) between injections 67 and 126 (0.00063 percentage point change) (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: The cumulative endophthalmitis risk per injection and per eye increased with greater number of injections received but appeared to do so at a higher rate during earlier injections and at a lower rate further into the treatment course.

Financial disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Keywords: Anti-VEGF; Endophthalmitis; Intravitreal injection.