[Evaluating post-cataract surgery changes in bacterial culture tests with and without face-washing]

To evaluate the changes in conjunctiva and eyelid culture test results before and after cataract surgery and their relation to face-washing.

70 patients (109 eyes) who had cataract surgery at Nishi-Kobe Medical Center had conjunctiva and eyelid smears taken both preoperatively and postoperatively. They had cataract surgery by phacoemulsification and aspiration followed by intraocular lens implantation. The patients were separated into two groups. The Face-Washing group started to wash their faces on the day after the operation (POD 1). The Non Face-Washing group started to wash their faces two days after the operation (POD2). We compared the results of the Face-Washing group and the Non Face-Washing group.

The percentage of culture-positive organisms in both the conjunctivae and eyelids dropped significantly postoperatively. In the conjunctivae, there were a few bacteria postoperatively, but in the eyelids, there were many Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) and Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) postoperatively. Only in the Non Face-Washing group, the number of S. epidermidis and P. acnes at POD2 increased significantly compared with POD1.

There are S. epidermidis and P. acnes deep in the skin (hair follicle), so S. epidermidis and P. acnes can still be detected postoperatively. Postoperative face-washing may prove effective in keeping the eyelids clean.