Bacterial contamination rate of the anterior chamber during cataract surgery using conventional culture and eubacterial PCR.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the incidence of anterior chamber bacterial contamination during phacoemulsification cataract surgery using eubacterial polymerase chain reaction and conventional cultures.


METHODS
This prospective study included 30 eyes of 24 patients who had phacoemulsification with implantation of a foldable acrylic posterior chamber intraocular lens through a 3.2-mm clear corneal incision. Topical aminosid was administered 3 days before surgery. After povidone-iodine antisepsis, 2 intraoperative anterior chamber aspirates were obtained from each patient, the first taken upon entering the anterior chamber and the second at the conclusion of surgery after the suture. Broad-range eubacterial polymerase chain reaction amplification and conventional cultures were used to verify that aqueous humor did not contain any detectable bacteria at the beginning of the surgery and to evaluate the bacterial contamination rate of the anterior chamber at the end of it. No oral antibiotic prophylaxis was used.


CONCLUSIONS
No specimens (0%) aspirated on entry into the anterior chamber or obtained at the conclusion of surgery were positive for microorganisms on culture or eubacterial polymerase chain reaction. None of the eyes developed acute endophthalmitis. The incidence of anterior chamber bacterial contamination during phacoemulsification recovered in this study using eubacterial polymerase chain reaction and conventional culture was null (0%).
Cornut
Pierre-Loïc
PL
Service d'Ophtalmologie, Université Lyon 1, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France. pierre-lo.cornut@wanadoo.fr
Vandenesch
François
F
Lina
Gerard
G
Benito
Yvonne
Y
Etienne
Jerome
J
Piras
Carolina
C
Kodjikian
Laurent
L
Denis
Philippe
P
Burillon
Carole
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000382:microbiology*; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000382:microbiology; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D005051:Eubacterium / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology
D004269:DNA, Bacterial