Intraocular bacterial contamination during cataract surgery in dogs

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Ophthalmology
• Ophthalmology
• Canine Surgery

Background:

• Intraoperative contamination during canine cataract surgery is a concern.
• Understanding contamination prevalence and its impact on outcomes is crucial for veterinary ophthalmology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of intraoperative contamination in canine eyes undergoing cataract surgery.
• To compare short-term outcomes between contaminated and non-contaminated eyes.
• To identify risk factors associated with intraocular contamination.

Main Methods:

• Bacteriologic culture of anterior chamber samples from 50 canine eyes.
• Evaluation of short-term postoperative outcomes including media clarity, pupil characteristics, and visual behavior.
• Comparison of outcomes between eyes with and without intraocular contamination.

Main Results:

• Bacterial contamination of the anterior chamber was found in 24% of eyes.
• Phacoemulsification was associated with lower contamination rates compared to intra- or extracapsular extraction.
• Eyes with anterior chamber contamination or undergoing intra-/extracapsular extraction had a higher risk of postoperative glaucoma.
• No significant differences in overall outcomes were observed between contaminated and non-contaminated eyes.
• Bacterial endophthalmitis did not develop in any eyes despite intraoperative contamination.

Conclusions:

• Intraoperative bacterial contamination of the anterior chamber in canine eyes undergoing cataract surgery is relatively common.
• While certain surgical techniques and contamination are linked to increased glaucoma risk, overall short-term outcomes are not significantly affected.
• Preventive measures and surgical technique may influence contamination rates, but bacterial endophthalmitis was notably absent in this cohort.