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Purpose
To compare postoperative endophthalmitis rates among patients prescribed A) generic versus branded topical antibiotics, B) different classes of topical antibiotics, and C) different types of topical fluoroquinolones after cataract surgery.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional analysis of all Medicare beneficiaries with Part D coverage who underwent cataract surgery in 2016. Medicare Part D claims were used to extract information on eye drop prescriptions that were filled during the postoperative period. Rates of endophthalmitis claims within 90 days of the surgery were analyzed.
Results
The postoperative endophthalmitis rate among patients prescribed generic antibiotics was 0.07% (15/21,818) compared to 0.08% (9/10,947) among those prescribed branded antibiotics. Endophthalmitis occurred in low rates among patients prescribed all classes of antibiotics: 0% (0/53) macrolides, 0% (0/56) sulfa antibiotics, 0.09% (33/34,995) polymyxins, 0.10% (385/390,197) fluroquinolones, and 0.12% (34/27,529) aminoglycosides. Among patients prescribed different types of fluoroquinolones, the postoperative endophthalmitis rates were also similar: 0.08% (52/63,566) besifloxacin, 0.09% (80/88,944) moxifloxacin, and 0.09% (176/206,113) ofloxacin.
Conclusion
There were no clinically significant differences in postoperative endophthalmitis rates among patients prescribed different brands and types of topical antibiotics. Given considerable cost differences of medications, there is substantial opportunity for cost savings with prescription of less expensive antibiotics following cataract surgery.
To compare postoperative endophthalmitis rates among patients prescribed A) generic versus branded topical antibiotics, B) different classes of topical antibiotics, and C) different types of topical fluoroquinolones after cataract surgery.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional analysis of all Medicare beneficiaries with Part D coverage who underwent cataract surgery in 2016. Medicare Part D claims were used to extract information on eye drop prescriptions that were filled during the postoperative period. Rates of endophthalmitis claims within 90 days of the surgery were analyzed.
Results
The postoperative endophthalmitis rate among patients prescribed generic antibiotics was 0.07% (15/21,818) compared to 0.08% (9/10,947) among those prescribed branded antibiotics. Endophthalmitis occurred in low rates among patients prescribed all classes of antibiotics: 0% (0/53) macrolides, 0% (0/56) sulfa antibiotics, 0.09% (33/34,995) polymyxins, 0.10% (385/390,197) fluroquinolones, and 0.12% (34/27,529) aminoglycosides. Among patients prescribed different types of fluoroquinolones, the postoperative endophthalmitis rates were also similar: 0.08% (52/63,566) besifloxacin, 0.09% (80/88,944) moxifloxacin, and 0.09% (176/206,113) ofloxacin.
Conclusion
There were no clinically significant differences in postoperative endophthalmitis rates among patients prescribed different brands and types of topical antibiotics. Given considerable cost differences of medications, there is substantial opportunity for cost savings with prescription of less expensive antibiotics following cataract surgery.
View More Presentations from this Session
This presentation is from the session "SPS-111 Cataract Surgery - Medications" from the 2020 ASCRS Virtual Annual Meeting held on May 16-17, 2020.