[Bacteriological detection of anterior chamber aspirate after extracapsular cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation].

We cultured the anterior chamber aspirates of 83 patients with extracapsular cataract extraction and IOL implantation. Of the 83 cases, 5 (6.1%) had positive aspirates including 3 cases of staphylococcus epidermidis and 2 cases of staphylococcus aureus. No eye in our study developed bacterial endophthalmitis. Our study suggests that the anterior chamber of human eyes is capable of clearing a low inoculum of bacteria after cataract surgery without the development of bacterial endophthalmitis.