The use of intracameral cefuroxime in penicillin allergic patient during cataract surgery: how safe is it?
Session Details
Session Title: Presented Poster Session: Complications Management in Cataract Surgery
Venue: Poster Village: Pod 1
First Author: : M.Qureshi UK
Co Author(s): : A. Sarmad Y. Ghosh
Abstract Details
Purpose:
The European society of cataract and refractive surgery Endophthalmitis study in 2007 showed that the use of intracameral cefuroxime during cataract surgery reduced the rate of Endophthalmitis by 5 fold with subsequent reports showing a reduction between 7 to 28 fold. The aim of our study was to assess the safety of administering intracameral cefuroxime in penicillin allergic patients with the exception of any documented anaphylactic reaction.
Setting:
Birmingham Midland Eye Centre, Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom
Methods:
Data was collected retrospectively over a five year period. Patients with documented penicillin allergy were included and patients with history of anaphylaxis and/or allergy to cephalosporin were excluded. A proforma was used to collect the data including patient age, gender, ethnicity, operated eye, type of penicillin allergy, intra – operative reaction, post – operative reaction, intra – operative complications, grade of operating surgeon.
Results:
42 eyes were identified from a total of 403 operations. There were 12 males (28.5%), 30 females (71%) with ages ranging from 51-90 years old. The operating surgeons varied from ST1 to consultant with 33 eyes (78.5%) being performed by a consultant. The type of penicillin allergy was recorded is 8 eyes (19%) including swelling (5%), lethargy (5%), rash (7%), dizziness (2%), GI upset (5%). 31 eyes (74%) of patients did not have a documented penicillin reaction. All patients received intra–cameral cefuroxime. There were no documented immediate or delayed reaction to cefuroxime and no documented cases of Endophthalmitis.
Conclusions:
Our data has shown that patients with a documented penicillin allergy did not have any adverse reaction to intra – cameral cefuroxime with no cases of Endophthalmitis. The benefits of cefuroxime in reducing the rates of Endophthalmitis is now well supported through current research and should be considered safe in patients with a range of penicillin allergies. Financial interest: None.
Financial Disclosure:
NONE
