Safety intervention reduces incidence of postoperative endophthalmitis
A multifaceted surgical safety intervention is effective and sustainable in reducing the incidence of postoperative endophthalmitis (POE) following ophthalmic surgery, according to a study published in Eye Discovery.
A study published in Eye Discovery has found that a comprehensive surgical safety intervention significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative endophthalmitis (POE) following ophthalmic surgery. The research, led by Biyun Zhan from Fudan University in Shanghai, assessed the impact of visual safety cues, periodic training, instrument regulation, microbial sampling, and video-based performance review on POE rates among 191,657 inpatients undergoing ophthalmic surgery.
Comparing incidence rates from 2017-2019 (preintervention) to 2020-2023 (postintervention), the researchers observed a 64.4% decrease in POE incidence, dropping from 0.038% to 0.013%. The intervention demonstrated a lasting impact, with a continued downward trend in annual POE incidence (incidence rate ratio of 0.619). Notably, patients undergoing cataract and crystalline lens surgery experienced the highest POE rates (0.055%) and saw the greatest reduction (from 0.132% to 0.021%).
The consistent application of this safety approach across five years in the study center has yielded long-term benefits and earned approval from both the surgical team and hospital administration. The authors suggest that this multifaceted safety intervention offers a scalable and adaptable model that can be effectively implemented in both ophthalmic and general surgery centers.
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