ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the effect of three preoperative anti-infective regimens on the sterility of anterior-chamber aspirates (ACA) in eyes undergoing extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE). Methods: Ninety eyes scheduled to undergo ECCE were randomly assigned to receive one of the following preoperative anti-infective regimens: Group 1 (Control) - no additional preoperative preparation; Group 2 (Eye drop) - neomycin/ polymixin B/gramicidin eye drops applied 3 times daily for 3 days prior to surgery; and Group 3 (Lid scrub) - neomycin/polymixin B/ bacitracin ointment lid scrub applied 3 times prior to surgery. ACAs were obtained from all eyes at the conclusion of surgery and cultured. The patients were followed up for 3 months after the surgery. Results: Positive cultures developed from ACAs in 5 (16.6 percent) of 30 eyes from Group 1, in 0 of 30 from Group 2, and in 3 (10 percent) of 30 from Group 3. No eye developed endophthalmitis. Compared with the control group, preoperative neomycin/polymixin B/gramicidin eye drops significantly reduced the ACA contamination rate (p= 0.03). Conclusion: Preoperative neomycin/polymixin B/bacitracin eyedrops can improve the sterility of the anterior chamber during ECCE.