Endophthalmitis Post Intravitreal Injections Comparison EPIIC Trial: Pars Plana Vitrectomy Versus Tap and Inject

Intravitreal injection (IVI) is an ophthalmological procedure used worldwide to treat ocular conditions. Its use has been steadily increasing for several years, because this method of drug delivery minimizes systemic exposure and allows for intraocular drug levels not achievable through systemic or topical drug administration. IVI of agents such as anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) or corticosteroids are efficacious for several retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion or diabetic macular edema, and uveitis, among others. But IVIs are not without their risk of complications and the most feared of which is infectious endophthalmitis, which can occur following intravitreal injections and has potentially devastating visual consequences, including loss of vision and/or the eye itself. Although endophthalmitis´s incidence ranges from 0-0.2% per infection, the cumulative risk for patients under sequential treatment may equate to more than 1% after 2 years of treatment. Endophthalmitis management following IVIs generally consists of a vitreous tap and inject (TAI) and/or a pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with intravitreal injection of antibiotics. However, there is no consensus on the optimal treatment of IVI-related endophthalmitis. Thus, an established treatment protocol for IVI-related endophthalmitis is warranted to optimize patient outcomes. The aim of this study is to determine whether PPV or TAI is superior for the treatment of IVI-related endophthalmitis.