INTRAVENOUS CEFAZOLIN IN PENETRATING EYE INJURIES - TREATMENT OF EXPERIMENTAL POSTTRAUMATIC ENDOPHTHALMITIS

The use of intravenous antibiotics as prophylaxis in penetrating eye i njuries is strictly empiric and not based on scientific data supportin g their use. To determine the efficacy of prophylactic intravenous cef azolin in penetrating eye injuries, a rabbit model of posttraumatic en dophthalmitis was developed. Forty rabbits received penetrating eye in juries followed immediately by an intravitreal inoculum of live Staphy lococcus epidermidis. The rabbits then were randomly divided into four groups: group 1 received three doses of intravenous cefazolin; group 2 received six doses, and group 3 received nine doses; group 4 receive d no treatment and served as controls. All control rabbits developed 4 + vitreitis; rabbits receiving three doses of the antibiotic developed 2+ vitreitis, and those receiving six or nine doses of cefazolin show ed no vitreous inflammation (P less-than-or-equal-to 0.0001). Histolog ic examination of control eyes showed an exuberant reaction with forma tion of retrolental membranes, vitreous abscess, and retinal detachmen t. Eyes treated with nine doses of cefazolin were devoid of inflammato ry cells. These findings suggest that intravenous cefazolin is effecti ve in preventing the development of posttraumatic endophthalmitis in a rabbit model.