These guidelines were developed jointly by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the Surgical Infection Society (SIS), and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA). This work represents an update to the

/pdf/clinical-practice-guidelines-for-antimicrobial-prophylaxis-1gq1adk8ux.pdf

Clinical practice guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis in surgery

Background Retinopathy of prematurity is a leading cause of childhood blindness worldwide. Peripheral retinal ablation with conventional (confluent) laser therapy is destructive, causes complications, and does not prevent all vision loss, especially in cases of retinopathy of prematurity affecting zone I of the eye. Case series in which patients were treated with vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors suggest that these agents may be useful in treating retinopathy of prematurity. Methods We conducted a prospective, controlled, randomized, stratified, multicenter trial to assess intravitreal bevacizumab monotherapy for zone I or zone II posterior stage 3+ (i.e., stage 3 with plus disease) retinopathy of prematurity. Infants were randomly assigned to receive intravitreal bevacizumab (0.625 mg in 0.025 ml of solution) or conventional laser therapy, bilaterally. The primary ocular outcome was recurrence of retinopathy of prematurity in one or both eyes requiring retreatment before 54 weeks' postmenstru...

/pdf/efficacy-of-intravitreal-bevacizumab-for-stage-3-retinopathy-57b87nermn.pdf

Efficacy of Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Stage 3+ Retinopathy of Prematurity

Antiangiogenesis Strategies Revisited: From Starving Tumors to Alleviating Hypoxia

/pdf/clinical-practice-guidelines-for-antimicrobial-prophylaxis-yxd0y9e4ks.pdf

Clinical practice guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis in surgery.

Optical coherence tomography angiography.

Purpose: To report a case of worsening of vitreomacular traction (VMT) after the dexamethasone intravitreal implant (Ozurdex; Allergan, Inc., Irvine, CA) for the treatment of macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Case: A 71-year-old man who presented with macular edema secondary to CRVO was treated by intravitreal injections of bevacizumab followed by Ozurdex. Results: VMT developed during the course of treatment and became more evident when macular edema resolved after treatment with Ozurdex. Conclusion: VMT may become apparent and worsen after resolution of macular edema treated with intravitreal Ozurdex.

Evolution of vitreomacular traction following the use of the dexamethasone intravitreal implant (Ozurdex) in the treatment of macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion.

Background: A significant number of eyes with diabetic macular edema remain refractory to treatment despite numerous attempts at photocoagulation. Triamcinolone acetonide, a minimally water soluble steroid injected in suspension form, has been reported to be a well-tolerated agent for intravitreal injection, prompting a decrease in diabetic macular edema on optical coherence tomography. We report our experience with this treatment in 19 eyes with persistent diabetic macular edema. Methods: We reviewed the charts of 16 patients (19 eyes) from a clinical practice with diabetic macular edema persistent after focal or grid laser photocoagulation. All eyes had received 4 mg of triamcinolone, injected into the vitreous cavity 3.5 mm posterior to the limbus. Fluorescein angiography was performed before and about 2 weeks after the injection. Snellen visual acuity and intraocular pressure (as determined with Goldmann applanation tonometry) were also measured before and after the injection. Results: Fluorescein angiography showed marked improvement of macular edema in 4 eyes (21.0%), mild improvement in 10 eyes (52.6%) and no change in 5 eyes (26.3%); no patient had worsening of macular edema. Visual acuity improved by at least 1 line in 13 eyes (68.4%), by 2 or more lines in 5 eyes (26.3%), by 3 or more lines in 2 eyes (10.5%) and by 4 lines in 1 eye (5.3%); visual acuity remained unchanged in 5 eyes (26.3%) and deteriorated by 1 line in 1 eye (5.3%). Intraocular pressure elevation of 10 mm Hg or greater occurred in two eyes (10.5%) and was successfully treated with topical administration of 0.15% brimonidine.The triamcinolone was well tolerated, and there were no other ocular complications. Interpretation: Intravitreal injection of triamcinolone has potential in the treatment of diabetic macular edema and warrants investigation in a randomized prospective clinical trial.

Intravitreal triamcinolone injection for diabetic macular edema: a clinical and fluorescein angiograhic case series

Transient closure of a retinal capillary hemangioma with verteporfin photodynamic therapy.

BACKGROUND Limited data have evaluated multiple injections of the dexamethasone 700 μg implant (DEX) (Ozurdex; Allergan, Inc.) for cystoid macular edema (CME) secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO) over an extended regimen. METHODS This retrospective study evaluated patients treated with DEX for CME associated with RVO. Each patient had ophthalmologic evaluation, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and 4 weeks to 6 weeks follow-up intervals. Retreatment criterion was fluid on OCT. Outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), central macular thickness on OCT, fluid resolution on OCT, and required treatment for elevated IOP and cataract. RESULTS Thirty-one patients had 82 DEX injections, with 19 patients having ≥2, 12 having ≥3, 10 having ≥4, 6 having ≥5, and 4 having ≥6 DEX injections. All patients were followed at least 12 weeks and had a mean follow-up period of 344.94 days. Fourteen patients (45%) developed ocular hypertension (≥22 mmHg), and 40% of phakic patients required cataract surgery. Mean interval of OCT fluid resolution was 52 days (range, 28-245; SD, ±8), and mean retreatment interval was 119 days (range, 42-309; SD, ±9). No patients required glaucoma surgery or developed endophthalmitis. CONCLUSION This study suggests that repeated, as needed, DEX injections for CME associated with RVO may be performed. Patients should be monitored and treated for ocular hypertension and cataract progression.

Evaluation of multiple dexamethasone intravitreal implants in patients with macular edema associated with retinal vein occlusion.

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome is a disorder characterized by a constellation of findings including truncal obesity, elevated blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, and high blood glucose. Recent evidence suggests that metabolic syndrome may be associated with increased risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other eye diseases. Recently, C57BL/6J wild-type mice fed with a "fast food" diet consisting of high fat, cholesterol, and fructose-supplemented water showed unique systemic pathology consistent with metabolic syndrome and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Additionally, these mice showed higher levels of fibrosis, inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction compared to mice fed with only a high-fat diet alone. Since similar pathways are activated in AMD, we sought to determine whether mice fed a "fast food" diet exhibited retinal changes.Methods: 3-month-old wild-type mice were randomized to a standard chow (n = 11) or a "fast food" (n = 18) diet and fed for 9 months. At 1 year of age, tissues were collected and retinas were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy. Quantitative measures of Bruch's membrane thickness and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell counts were performed.Results: "Fast food" fed mice showed ocular pathology relevant to various stages of AMD including basal laminar deposits, focal thickening of Bruch's membrane, and a significant loss of RPE cells.Discussion/conclusion: A wild-type mouse model of metabolic syndrome fed a "fast food" diet developed changes to the retina similar to some of the pathologic features seen in AMD. Further investigations into this and similar animal models as well as further epidemiological studies are needed to more clearly define the association between metabolic syndrome and AMD.

Sophie J. Bakri

Papers

Evolution of vitreomacular traction following the use of the dexamethasone intravitreal implant (Ozurdex) in the treatment of macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion.

Intravitreal triamcinolone injection for diabetic macular edema: a clinical and fluorescein angiograhic case series

Transient closure of a retinal capillary hemangioma with verteporfin photodynamic therapy.

Evaluation of multiple dexamethasone intravitreal implants in patients with macular edema associated with retinal vein occlusion.

Diet Mimicking "Fast Food" Causes Structural Changes to the Retina Relevant to Age-Related Macular Degeneration.