ANTERIOR-CHAMBER ASPIRATE CULTURES IN SMALL-INCISION CATARACT-SURGERY

Background-Anterior chamber aspirates on completion of extracapsular c ataract surgery contain significant numbers of organisms, particularly coagulase negative staphylococci, an important cause of endophthalmit is. Methods-Culture rates were compared in 50 patients after phacoemul sification surgery, which allows the possible benefits of a small, sel f sealing wound and maintenance of positive intraocular pressure, with a similar number of extracapsular cases. Results-A culture positive r ate of 20% and 24% respectively was found, an insignificant difference . Conclusion-Small incision surgery has no proved advantage over extra capsular surgery in terms of reducing the intraoperative bacterial ino culum. The significance of this result in terms of causation of endoph thalmitis is discussed.