A cost minimization analysis of intracameral cefuroxime and moxifloxacin in cataract surgery

Aim: In this study, we aim to perform Cost Minimization Analysis of cefuroxime and moxifloxacin, which have proven to have a similarefficacy in the prophylaxis of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery.Material and Methods: The records of 1097 patients who had undergone cataract surgery and intracameral antibiotic (cefuroxime,moxifloxacin) injection in 2018 were evaluated retrospectively. Patients undergoing cataract surgery were divided into two groupsaccording to the type of antibiotic injected into the anterior chamber. Group 1 consisted of patients who received intracameral1mg/0.1ml cefuroxime and Group 2 consisted of patients who received intracameral 500 μg /0.1ml moxifloxacin. In the postoperativeperiod, patients in both groups received topical antibiotic drops containing 0.5% moxifloxacin and steroid drops containing 0.1%dexamethasone for 7 days.Results: The Group 1 consisted of 213 (19.4%) patients, of which 97 (45.5%) were male and 116 (54.5%) were female, while Group 2consisted of 884 (80.6) patients, of which 439 (49.7%) were male, and 445 (50.3%) were female (p=0.280). The groups were similarin terms of age and gender distribution of the patients. There was no significant difference in terms of the posterior capsule rupturedevelopment between the two groups (p=0.692).BCVA was statistically significant before and after surgery in both groups. None ofthe patients in both groups developed endophthalmitis. The cost of the drugs used in the first group was 3 times higher than thesecond group.Conclusion: The antibiotics injected to the anterior chamber during cataract surgery have similar effectiveness, moxifloxacin injectionto the anterior chamber was found to be more advantageous in terms of cost, compared to the use of disposable cefuroxime.