[Bacteriological study of the intraocular fluid at the end of cataract surgery]

The authors studied bacterial contamination of the anterior chamber during extracapsular cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation. A first study was conducted to determine the rate of contamination of anterior chamber aspirates, before surgery, in 46 patients undergoing cataract extraction. A second study concerned 200 patients undergoing extracapsular extraction with posterior chamber lens. Anterior chamber fluid was aspirated at the end of surgery, and inoculated into blood culture bottles. Bacteriological results were positive in 11 cases, and were compared with conjunctival smears. The way in which aqueous humor was aspirated and inoculated is described. The bacteriological method was tested with a small inoculum of bacteria. Bacteriological study of intraocular fluid at the end of cataract surgery might be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of postoperative endophthalmitis.