Isolation and Diagnosis of the Conjunctival Normal Flora before and After Cataract Extraction Surgery

Abstract

Background: The conjunctival flora is opportunistic microorganisms because under certain circumstances they can cause endogenous infections.

Objective: This study aimed to diagnose conjunctival flora before and after cataract surgery and their role in post-cataract surgical infections.

Method: Specimens from ninety-one patients were collected from the conjunctivas and eyelid margins of ninety-one eyes of ninety-one patients both immediately before and one day after experiencing cataract surgery. These specimens were subjected to microbiological and biochemical tests. Susceptibility of ninety isolates obtained preoperatively was performed toward fifteen antibiotics.

Results: Staphylococcus epidermidis followed by Staphylococcus aureus were the predominant bacteria isolated from the conjunctiva and eyelid margin of the eyes before and after cataract extraction surgery. Vancomycin followed by ciprofloxacin and amikacin were significantly responsive against conjunctival isolates. In this study two patients suffered from postoperative endophthalmitis with the predominant of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus.

 Conclusion: It was predicated that the most causative microbes of post cataract surgical infections were the normal conjunctival flora. Keywords:  conjunctival Normal Flora, Endophthalmitis, Ciprofloxacin, Vancomycin, Amikacin