Effects of intracameral bacteriophage in interleukin-1 beta and interferon-gamma as prophylaxis of postoperative Staphylococcus aureus-induced endophthalmitis in rabbits

Postoperative endophthalmitis is a serious complication of cataract surgery. It may leads to vision loss. The most common organism cause endophthalmitis is gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The aim of this study is to demonstrate the prophylactic effect of intracameral bacteriophage administration in endophthalmitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus following lens extraction surgery in rabbits. A total of 10 New Zealand rabbits were divided into 2 groups consisting of 5 rabbits each. Postoperative endophthalmitis was induced by injecting intracameral S. aureus bacteria just after lens extraction surgery. The control groups were rabbits underwent lens extraction surgery and injected with S. aureus. The treatment groups as above followed by simultaneously administering intracameral Staphylococcal bacteriophage injection. The expression of IL-1β and IFN-γ in vitreous humor was evaluated using ELISA method at 48 hours after surgery. Pathological changes in retinal tissues were observed using HE staining. IL-1β and IFN-γ levels in the treatment group (8.4702 ± 2.625 ng/L and 16,086 ± 1,578.4 ng/L) were lower than the control group (11.9021 ± 3.508 ng/L and 18,722 ± 1,113.1 ng/L) with p=0.023 and p=0.016. Histopathologic analyses revealed inflammations in the globe and disruption of the retinal layers in the control groups. In contrast, bacteriophage-treated eyes showed no signs of inflammation and intact retinal structures. Administration of intracameral bacteriophage decreased the expression of IL-1β and IFN-γ in vitreous humor as well as disruption in retinal tissue, thus it suppressed postoperative endophthalmitis in rabbits.