In this retrospective cohort study, the authors looked at seasonal and environmental variations in 171 endophthalmitis cases out of 423,297 intravitreal injections. The incidence of this complication was not correlated to monthly snowfall, rainfall, or average temperature. There was no seasonal variation in causative microorganisms. Visual outcomes at six months after initial diagnosis and at final follow-up were significantly worse for patients during spring compared to other seasons. In this group of patients, the odds of final visual acuity (VA) returning to within two lines of pre-infective acuity were worse. The authors postulate that the correlation between season and climate with visual outcomes could be related to increased virulence of organisms present during particular seasons. There are many variables in the data collected for the study and the authors acknowledge major limitations in this retrospective study.
Environmental variations in endophthalmitis
Reviewed by Kurt Spiteri Cornish
Seasonal and environmental variations in endophthalmitis after intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection: a six-year review.
CONTRIBUTOR
Kurt Spiteri Cornish
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK.
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