Bacterial Culture of conjuncitiva and Aqueous Humor in Cotaract Surgery

Cho, Byung Joo

Abstract

Endophthalmitis after cataract surgery causes a profound visual loss. In this study, we performed bacterial cultures from conjuncitival swab atthe beginning of operation and of aqueous humor at the end of operation in 213 uncomplicated cataract surgery to examine the kinds of microorganisms being able to induce an endophthalmitis. Among five positive cultures from conjunctival swabs, Staphylococcus aureus was positive in four cases and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was positive in one case. In bacterial culture of aqueous humor, two microorganisms were observed, in which one case was Staphylococcus epidermidis and the other was Proteus vulgaris. However, ther was no case showing bacterial positive concurrently of conjunctiva and aqueous humor. In addition, there was no case of endophthalmitis. With these results, we could find that various microorganisms existed in conjunctival surface and in aqueous humor. However, itseems to be under the control of self-defense mechanis suppressing an endophthalmitis postoperatively in case of intact posterior capsule. Nevertheless, cataract surgeons should be careful to avoid an endophthalmitis with meticulous aseptic technique forundesirable events.