Determining the Effect of Antibiotic Drop Prophylaxis on the Conjunctival Flora
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2011-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Ranibizumab (Lucentis) is currently the best treatment for wet Age-Related Macular
Degeneration (AMD). To work, the drug must be injected by means of an intravitreal injection
(IVT) into the vitreous (jelly-like material) cavity in the back of the eye, repeatedly at
intervals ranging from one to several months. Endophthalmitis is a rare but devastating
infection of the eye that occurs in approximately 0.2% of patients after IVT injection. Many
ophthalmologists ask patients to use antibiotic eye drops after IVT injection in the hope
that this may reduce the risk of endophthalmitis. There is no proof that this happens and
there is a possible risk that repeated exposure to the same antibiotic may cause antibiotic
resistance organisms (bacteria) to develop over time.
The investigators hypothesize that repeated exposure to antibiotic during the initial stages
of treatment for AMD will result in a progressive shift in the conjunctival flora with an
increasing number of antibiotic resistant organisms appearing over time. If this is
demonstrated, changes to the prevailing treatment approach will be needed to reduce the long
term risk of a patient developing antibiotic resistant endophthalmitis during treatment.
Phase:
N/A
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Lawson Health Research Institute
Collaborator:
St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation
Treatments:
Anti-Bacterial Agents Antibiotics, Antitubercular Moxifloxacin Norgestimate, ethinyl estradiol drug combination