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Study of Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Endophthalmitis Following Cataract Surgery
Link to the ClinicalTrials.gov recordInformation obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on January 26, 2012
Title of trial/grant titleStudy of Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Endophthalmitis Following Cataract Surgery
Current status of trialCompleted
Sponsors and collaboratorsCity University, London
The European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons(ESCRS)
Santen Gmbh
Information provided byCity University, London
ClinicalTrials.gov identifierNCT00136344
PurposeCataract is the most important cause of visual impairment and decreased mobility in the
elderly. While surgery is usually successful, it is also responsible for permanent loss of
vision in up to 0.1% of patients due to severe post-operative infection (endophthalmitis).
Because of this risk, surgery is typically performed on one eye at a time leaving the
patient with a monocular cataract causing considerable visual impairment with reduction in
mobility and quality of life. A second operation is required which often takes place up to
one year later.

It is not known at present whether the post-operative complication of endophthalmitis can be
prevented by perioperative use of antibiotics. This randomised study (masked and
placebo-controlled for topical levofloxacin and unmasked for intracameral injection of
cefuroxime) sets out to test in 4 groups, each of 8,750 cataract surgery patients, if either
topical antibiotic (levofloxacin) perioperatively or an intraocular (intracameral) injection
of antibiotic (cefuroxime) at the end of phacoemulsification cataract surgery or the
combination provides effective prophylaxis of post-operative infection (endophthalmitis)
compared to controls in whom perioperative antibiotics are not used. The result will
provide a scientific basis for prophylaxis of infection (endophthalmitis) following cataract
surgery in Europe as well as an accurate figure for the incidence of endophthalmitis
following phacoemulsification cataract surgery in Europe for the first time.
Condition(s)Endophthalmitis
Intervention(s)Drug: Cefuroxime
Drug: Levofloxacin
PhaseN/A
Study type and designAllocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment, Masking: Double-Blind, Primary Purpose: Prevention
Official titleAntibiotic Prophylaxis for Cataract Surgery Version 7e January 22 2003
Further study detailsCataract extraction with intra-ocular lens implantation is the most commonly performed
surgical procedure in the elderly population in Europe. The frequency varies in different
European Union (EU) countries involving 2 to 7 per 1000 population per annum. A population
with an ever-increasing proportion of the elderly is advancing this figure with numbers
requiring surgery expected to increase by 70% by 2006. While technical advances
(phacoemulsification) have enhanced the efficacy of the procedure, the possibility of
serious post-operative infection with loss of vision remains the most important unsolved
problem.

In the absence of scientific evidence, the European Society of Cataract and Refractive
Surgeons (ESCRS) wishes to determine whether one currently developed method of delivering
antibiotics intraocularly in Sweden is of benefit compared to surgery without the use of
perioperative antibiotics, as currently practised in many European centres, or to the use of
frequent application of topical antibiotic drops perioperatively. The ESCRS also wishes
to assess possible risk factors for later endophthalmitis.

This study requires four groups of 8,750 patients - 35,000 in all - to demonstrate
reductions of currently reported rates of endophthalmitis (approximately 0.3%) in patients
where no intraocular antibiotics are used, or where they are used by the subconjunctival
route. Other studies using intraocular vancomycin have reported results as low as 0.05%,
but these studies were not standardised or controlled and the results were anecdotal. In
addition, vancomycin should not be used for routine prophylaxis and should only be used as
the antibiotic of 'last resort'.

This multi-centre randomised study involves 24 operating units in 8 EU countries (Austria,
Belgium, England, Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain) and Turkey. Results in 8,750
patients receiving an intracameral injection of antibiotic (cefuroxime) at the end of
surgery will be compared to 8,750 patients receiving topical antibiotic (levofloxacin)
prophylaxis before and at the end of surgery, 8,750 patients receiving the combination and
8,750 patients receiving neither regime; in addition, all patients will receive povidone
iodine antiseptic prophylaxis prior to surgery and post-operative levofloxacin from days 1
to 6 to prevent wound infection.

This group size will be sufficiently large to ensure at least 80% statistical power to
detect a reduction of incidence from 0.25% to 0.08% using 5% significance level tests.

Surgical data from all patients will be collected directly into computers based within each
operating theatre and transmitted to a central server in Glasgow (University of
Strathclyde). Follow-up data for the presence or absence of endophthalmitis will be
collected from all patients at post-operative visits and similarly recorded on computers for
transmission to the central server. Sophisticated techniques will be used to check all
data as it is uploaded.
Primary outcomePrevention of post-operative endophthalmitis following phacoemulsification cataract surgery in Europe due to use of perioperative antibiotics
Incidence of endophthalmitis in Europe following phacoemulsification cataract surgery
Secondary outcomeEffect of risk factors on the presentation of endophthalmitis in Europe following phacoemulsification cataract surgery
Study startSeptember 2003
Minimum age18 Years
Maximum ageN/A
GenderBoth
Eligibility criteriaInclusion Criteria:

- All patients, including diabetics, undergoing routine cataract surgery in each unit
taking part in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

- Patients who do not wish to take part in the trial

- Patients allergic to penicillins and cephalosporins.

- Long-term nursing home patients

- Patients with only one eye

- Pregnancy.

- Children less than 18 years old.

- All severely 'at-risk' groups for infection including:

- Severe atopic keratoconjunctivitis;

- Severe active blepharitis;

- Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid.

- Patients with complicated cataracts such as traumatic or subluxated

- Patients having combined operations with cataract surgery such as trabeculectomy or a
corneal graft.

- Patients known to be allergic to povidone iodine (very rare) or any other known
hypersensitivity to any components of the study medications.

- Patients who are incapacitated mentally and incapable of giving consent.

- Patients with severe thyroid disease

- Open infection anywhere, infection of lacrimal drainage channels or infection around
the eye
Study chairs or principal investigatorsPeter Barry, FRCS, Study Chair, ESCRS - European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons
Mary D'Ardis, Principal Investigator, ESCRS
LocationsAustria

University Eye Clinic, Paracelsus Private Medical University
Salzburg

Belgium

University Hospital Antwerp, UZA Ophthalmology
Antwerp

Belgium

University of Gent, Universitaire Zeikenhuis
Gent

Belgium

Jan Yperman Ziekenhuis
Ieper

Belgium

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire
Liege

Belgium

Oogheelkunde
Melveren

Germany

Augenklinik Ahaus
Ahaus

Italy

Azienda Ospedaliera di Desenzano del Garda
Desenzano

Italy

Ospedale Borgo Trento
Verona

Poland

Kierownik Katedry i Kliniki
Warsaw

Portugal

University Hospital
Coimbra

Spain

Instituto Oftalmologico VISSUM
Alicante

Spain

La Candelaria University Hospital
La Candelaria, Tenerife

Spain

Hospital Universitario de Canarias
La Laguna, Tenerife

Spain

Hospital Oftalmologico Internacional
Madrid

Turkey

Dokuz Eylul University
Izmir

United Kingdom

Axminster Hospital
Axminster

United Kingdom

West of England Eye Unit, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (Wonford)
Exeter

United Kingdom

Ipswich Hospital
Ipswich

United Kingdom

Moorfields Eye Outreach Unit, Northwick Park Hospital
London

United Kingdom

Moorfields Eye Outreach Unit, St. George's Hospital
London

United Kingdom

St. Thomas' Hospital
London

United Kingdom

Oxford Eye Hospital
Oxford

United Kingdom

Sunderland Eye Infirmary
Sunderland
PublicationsSeal DV, Barry P, Gettinby G, Lees F, Peterson M, Revie CW, Wilhelmus KR; ESCRS Endophthalmitis Study Group. ESCRS study of prophylaxis of postoperative endophthalmitis after cataract surgery: Case for a European multicenter study. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2006 Mar;32(3):396-406. Erratum in: J Cataract Refract Surg. 2006 May;32(5):709.
ResultsBarry P, Seal DV, Gettinby G, Lees F, Peterson M, Revie CW; ESCRS Endophthalmitis Study Group. ESCRS study of prophylaxis of postoperative endophthalmitis after cataract surgery: Preliminary report of principal results from a European multicenter study. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2006 Mar;32(3):407-10. Erratum in: J Cataract Refract Surg. 2006 May;32(5):709.

Escrs Endophthalmitis Study Group. Prophylaxis of postoperative endophthalmitis following cataract surgery: Results of the ESCRS multicenter study and identification of risk factors. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2007 Jun;33(6):978-88.
Study ID numbersMREC Ref. no. 02/5/46
Last updatedJune 7, 2007
Record first receivedAugust 26, 2005
ClinicalTrials.gov identifierNCT00136344
Download dateInformation obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on January 26, 2012
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