[Screening for multiresistant pathogens before cataract surgery].

Introduction: Infections caused by multiresistant pathogens may have serious consequences. In ophthalmological practice, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the most important multiresistant pathogen. Objective: We took samples for multiresistant pathogens from patients assigned for cataract surgery. Method: We carried out multiresistant pathogen screening from conjunctival sac in 257 patients, who were assigned for cataract surgery. Preoperative case history and concomitant systemic diseases were evaluated in patients, who turned out to be positive for multiresistant pathogens during the screening procedure. Results: The samples were positive for multiresistant pathogens in 17 patients. In the case history of 11 multiresistant pathogen positive patients, previous systemic risk factors could be explored. Multiresistant pathogen positive patients were operated only after the decolonisation. After the decolonisation, the normal antibiotic prevention was used before the surgery. Multiresistant pathogen positive was 6.6%, MRSA positive was 5% of the 257 patients. There were no cases of endophthalmitis in any of these patients. Conclusion: Endophthalmitis prevention with antibiotics, according to the guidelines, may not be efficient in multiresistant pathogen positive patients. Therefore, it is advisable to screen multiresistant pathogens and decolonisation at risk patients before cataract surgery. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(3): 106–111.