Knowledge about Prescribing Antibiotics as Prophylaxis in Patients with Open Globe Injury: A Survey in Iranian Ophthalmologists

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the Iranian ophthalmologists’ knowledge of prescribing prophylacticantibiotics to patients with open globe injury (OGI) in Iran.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we utilized a questionnaire to evaluate the ophthalmologists’ knowledgeabout prescribing antibiotics as prophylaxis. This survey was conducted in Tehran and its suburbs. Thequestionnaire included demographic information as well as ophthalmologists’ knowledge levels. Cronbach’salpha was used to determine its validity and reliability. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0.Results: Of 192 subjects, 111 (35 women, 76 men) were included. About 65 (58.6%) specialists and 45 (41.4%)subspecialists with different orientations completed the questionnaires. The total knowledge score was13.04±2.96. The following are the results of ophthalmologists’ responses to questions regarding the cornea/scleral injury (1.09±1.72), prophylactic antibiotics administration (2.79±1.11), the infectious agents in eyesurgeries (3.21±1.49), diagnosis and treatment (2.84±0.944), and the effects of ocular antibiotics as well as theirproper dosage (2.96±2.35). There was no significant relationship between some demographic information suchas sex, working hours, workplace, and the number of studied articles (p>0.05). In addition, ophthalmologistswith less work experience had significantly higher levels of knowledge than those with more work experience.Conclusion: The findings indicated that the majority of ophthalmologists had a basic knowledge of prescribingprophylactic antibiotics in OGI.

Keywords

• knowledge
• ophthalmologist
• prophylaxis
• open globe injury
• antibiotics