BACTERIOLOGICAL STATUS OF THE EYE DURING CATARACT SURGERY

Abstract

Postoperative bacterial endophthalmitis is one of the worst complications of cataract surgery, and inspite of all the preventive measures taken, endophthalmitis still occurs. Because of the serious visual disability left over by such infection, ophthalmologists all over the world are striving to minimize this risk through a better understanding of the sources, aetiology and management of endophthalmitis. Much attention has been attracted to the possible role of the periocular flora as a main source of infection, and organisms that were considered normal harmless commensals in the past are now thought to be the most common cause of endophthalmitis. The aim of the present work was to study the bacteriological status of the eye during cataract surgery. Seventy-five patients scheduled for cataract surgery in the ophthaimology operating theatre of Alexandria University Hospital were recruited for this study. Cultures were taken immediately preoperatively, before and after disinfection, from the periocular skin, lid margin and inferior conjunctival fornix.