Résumé
Objective: to establish the incidence of bacterial contamination of the anterior chamber at the end of cataract surgery and to find the relationship of bacteria isolated from the anterior chamber at the end of surgery to the positive culture swab from lid and conjunctiva
Material and Methods: in this prospective, randomized trial, fifty eyes of 50 patients undergoing cataract surgery, using extracapsular cataract extraction [ECCE] or phacoemulsification technique with or without intraocular lens [IOL] implantation were included in the study. A swab for culture was taken from inferior conjunctiva! Fornix and lid margin prior to the application of povidone-iodine solution. At the conclusion of surgery 0.1 ml fluid was aspirated from the anterior chamber [AC] with 1 ml syringe. Both specimens were inoculated on blood agar, MacConkey's agar and chocolate agar
Results: nine [18%] of the lid/conjunctiva! swabs were found to be positive for bacteria. 7 [14 %] of the anterior chamber fluid specimen were culture positive. In 4 of the 7 [57%] cases, bacteria in the anterior chamber tap were the same as those found in the lids and conjunctiva which proves a definite source of bacteria that enter the anterior chamber
Conclusion: anterior chamber does get contaminated during cataract surgery in spite of all precautions and aseptic techniques employed