Purpose: To compare the use of systemic oral and intravenous antibiotics as a prophylactic measure to prevent endophthalmitis in patients with open globe injuries.
Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 1,255 consecutive patients with open globe injuries due to sharp or blunt trauma in a hospital setting in Tehran, Iran from January, 2011 to May, 2013. The patients were randomly divided into two groups and either received intravenous or oral systemic antibiotics as a measure to prevent endophthalmitis. The patients who developed endophthalmitis were followed for 1 year.
Results: In the first group, 12 patients (1.8%) developed endophthalmitis until postoperative Day 3 and 2 more patients (0.3%) developed endophthalmitis until the end of Week 1. These numbers in group receiving oral antibiotics were 8 (1.3%), 5 (0.8%), and 13 patients, respectively, showing no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups. There was also no statistically significant difference in the visual acuity of patients developing endophthalmitis in these 2 groups 1 year postoperatively.
Conclusion: No statistically significant difference in the occurrence of postoperative endophthalmitis or the visual acuity 1 year after operation among patients with open globe injuries receiving intravenous or oral systemic antibiotics as a prophylactic measure was observed.