Toxicity, Efficacy, and Clearance of Intravitreally Injected Cefazolin

The intravitreal injection of cefazolin sodium was evaluated with respect to its potential toxicity, efficacy, and clearance in the treatment of bacterial endophthalmitis in the rabbit model. Toxicity evaluation included indirect ophthalmoscopy, scotopic electroretinogram, and light microscopy of histopathologic specimens. Rabbits given doses up to and including 2.25 mg of cefazolin sodium showed no evidence of toxic reaction by these criteria after two weeks of observation. When injected within 24 hours of inoculation, 2.25 mg of cefazolin sodium sterilized five of six rabbit eyes infected with Staphylococcus aureus. Following intravitreal injection of 2.25 mg of cefazolin sodium, vitreous concentrations in excess of the minimum inhibitory concentration for S aureus were maintained for five days. A 2.25-mg dose of cefazolin sodium appears to be nontoxic, effective, and biologically active against susceptible organisms during a prolonged period, when injected into the vitreous cavity of the pigmented rabbit in vivo.