[Bacteriological contents of conjunctival sac in patients with cataract in the early post-operative period].

PURPOSE: Evaluation of conjunctival microflora in patients with cataract, during the early post-operative period.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

One hundred twenty patients scheduled for cataract extraction were evaluated. In each patient, conjunctival swab was taken directly after cataract surgery and two to three days postoperatively. Following surgical procedure all patients received topical antibiotics alone or along with steroids. The agents were placed into conjunctival sac of the operated eye. Ophthalmic ointments were administered HS and eye drops QID.

RESULTS

9.2% (11 patients) of the cultures of conjunctival swabs collected right after surgical procedure were positive for growth with predominantly Gram-positive organisms, mainly Staphyloccocus spp. These, were compared with 24.2% (29 patients) of positive cultures from conjunctival swabs collected two to three days later. 4.2% of the latter were also positive when taken in the operating room, immediately after a surgical procedure. The remaining 20.0% of positive cultures swabbed two to three days after surgery were resulted from the contamination of conjunctival sac with germs during the postoperative hospitalisation.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a risk of early post-operative infection in patients undergoing cataract surgery. It is caused by the appearance of microflora in the conjunctival sac.