Source: N Engl J Med
Area: News
Following the publication of a study by the Comparison of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment Trials (CATT) research group (see link to NeLM report) in the New England Journal of Medicine (May 19) supporting off-label use of bevacizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration, a letter from the Tennessee Department of Health has been published in the journal warning of the contamination risks when compounding and dispensing bevacizumab for intravitreal use.
The authors were aware of three recent clusters of endophthalmitis secondary to alpha-haemolytic streptococcus, after intravitreal injections of bevacizumab in 9 patients, 4 (44%) of whom lost eyesight; one also had meningitis and encephalitis, although no confirmation has been received that the latter infections were caused by the same strain of alpha-haemolytic streptococcus. Two completed investigations have implicated the same compounding pharmacy in which non-compliance with face-mask usage was ...
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