Comparison between intracameral ceftazidime & cefuroxime for the prevention of post-operative endophthalmitis

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of intracameral injection of ceftazidime and cefuroxime during cataract surgery for the prevention of post-operative endophthalmitis. Study Design: Quasi experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Ophthalmology Department Unit-1, Lahore General Hospital, Lahore. From November 2016 to March 2018. Material and Methods: Patients undergoing cataract surgery in the eye department were selected by convenient sampling to receive prophylactic intracameral antibiotics at the end of routine cataract surgery. Patients were divided into two groups; group A received Cefuroxime and group B received Ceftazidime both as 1 mg /0.1ml intracameral injections at the end of the surgery after wound hydration and before chamber formation. The patients were examined pre and post operatively on slit lamp and the number of cells in the anterior chamber (A/C) were counted on day 1, week 1 and week 6 after surgery. Results: Out of total 260 patients 130 were allocated to each group. On first post-operative day in Group A, A/C cell counts were grade 1 in 22 patients, grade 2 in 93 patients, grade 3 in 14 patients and Grade 4 in 1 patient. In group B, A/C cell counts were grade 1 in 11 patients, grade 2 in 96 patients, grade 3 in 20 patients and grade 4 in 3 patients. After one week, in group A, cell counts were grade 0 in 27 patients, grade 1 in 100 patients, grade 2 in 2 patients and grade 4 in 1 patient. While in group B, A/C cell counts were Grade 0 in 23 patients, grade 1 in 102 patients, grade 2 in 3 patients and grade 3 in 2 patients. After 6 weeks no patient in any group showed any activity in the anterior chamber. Conclusion: There is little difference in efficacy of intracameral ceftazidime antibiotic prophylaxis as compared to the intracameral cefuroxime.