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Anterior chamber fluid contamination after uncomplicated phacoemulsification
A Assalian1, P Thompson, P St-Antoine
1Department of Ophthalmology, Notre-Dame Hospital, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
|September 1, 1995
Summary
This study found a very low rate of aerobic bacterial contamination in the anterior chamber after uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Control cultures showed similar contamination, highlighting their importance in research.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Phacoemulsification is a common cataract surgery technique.
- Assessing intraoperative contamination is crucial for patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the rate of aerobic bacterial contamination in the anterior chamber following uncomplicated posterior chamber phacoemulsification.
- To evaluate the significance of control cultures in contamination studies.
Main Methods:
- Aspirated anterior chamber fluid from 103 eyes post-surgery.
- Used sterile balanced salt solution cultures as controls.
- Analyzed bacterial growth in both surgical and control samples.
Main Results:
- 4 out of 103 (3.9%) anterior chamber cultures showed bacterial contamination.
- 3 out of 103 (2.9%) control cultures also exhibited microbial growth.
- The observed contamination rate in surgical samples was minimally higher than in controls.
Conclusions:
- Uncomplicated phacoemulsification has a very low rate of anterior chamber aerobic bacterial contamination.
- The use of control cultures is essential for accurately interpreting contamination rates in surgical studies.