Corneal Laceration Medication
- Author: Andrew A Aronson, MD, FACEP; Chief Editor: Barry E Brenner, MD, PhD, FACEP more...
Medication Summary
Recommendations include a combination of a cephalosporin (eg, cefazolin) or vancomycin and an aminoglycoside (eg, gentamicin). In addition, add clindamycin if an intraocular foreign body is present or if vegetable matter has contaminated the wound. The most common organisms identified in posttraumatic endophthalmitis are Staphylococcus epidermidis, bacilli species, streptococci species, and gram-negative species. Fungal endophthalmitis is a relatively rare entity but should be considered in a patient who is recently post-surgical, immunocompromised, unresponsive to antibiotic treatment, or has a history of trauma with vegetable matter. Treatment should be discussed with the ophthalmology consultant if this is suspected.
Antibiotics
Class Summary
These agents are used in prophylaxis of endophthalmitis. Therapy must cover all likely pathogens in the context of the clinical setting.
Cefazolin (Ancef, Kefzol, Zolicef)
First-generation cephalosporin antibiotic for gram-positive bacterial coverage. Commonly used in combination with an aminoglycoside to achieve broad-spectrum coverage.
Gentamicin (Gentacidin, Garamycin)
Aminoglycoside that provides coverage for most gram-negative organisms causing endophthalmitis.
Commonly used in combination with both an agent against gram-positive organisms and one that covers anaerobes.
Not the antibiotic of first choice. Consider using this aminoglycoside when penicillins or other less toxic drugs are contraindicated, when bacterial susceptibility tests and clinical judgment indicate its use, and in mixed infections caused by susceptible strains of staphylococci and gram-negative organisms.
Dosing regimens are numerous and are adjusted based on creatinine clearance and changes in the volume of distribution. May be administered IV or IM.
Clindamycin (Cleocin)
Lincosamide useful as a treatment against serious skin and soft tissue infections caused by most staphylococci. Effective against aerobic and anaerobic streptococci, except enterococci.
Use in the prophylaxis of endophthalmitis when a foreign body is present or if the injury was soil or farm related to provide an effective agent against bacilli species.
Vancomycin (Vancocin)
Potent antibiotic directed against gram-positive organisms and active against enterococci species.
Can be used as an alternative to cefazolin to provide coverage for most gram-positive organisms causing endophthalmitis.
Use in conjunction with gentamicin for prophylaxis in penicillin-allergic patients undergoing GI or GU procedures.
To avoid toxicity, the current recommendation is to assay vancomycin trough levels after the third dose (drawn 0.5 h prior to next dosing). Use creatinine clearance to adjust the dose in patients with renal impairment.
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