Aqueous humor contamination during phacoemulsification in a university teaching hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the intraoperative contamination of the anterior chamber in eyes undergoing phacoemulsification in a university teaching hospital.


METHODS
Prospective, non-randomized clinical trial.


METHODS
This study included 113 eyes of 113 consecutive patients undergoing cataract surgery performed by experienced surgeons and residents. Phacoemulsification was conducted through a scleral tunnel incision or through a corneal incision. The intraocular lens was implanted with an injector. Aqueous fluid was obtained at the end of surgery before viscoelastic removal, with a cannula through the corneal paracentesis. Povidone-iodine 10% solution was used to prepare the eyebrow and eyelids and povidone-iodine 5% to disinfect the ocular surface. All patients were given a single oral dose of 400mg ofloxacin 2h before surgery. No preoperative antibiotics were administered locally.


RESULTS
Anterior chamber fluid aspirates were positive for bacteria in two eyes (1.8%). No eye developed endophthalmitis during the follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
Low anterior chamber bacterial contamination rates may be achieved under routine phacoemulsification in a teaching hospital practicing careful antisepsis measures.
Service d'ophtalmologie, hôpital Saint-Roch, université de Nice, 5, rue Pierre-Dévoluy, BP 1319, 06001 Nice, France.
S
S
Baillif
C
C
Roure-Sobas
F
F
Le-Duff
L
L
Kodjikian
D000368:Aged; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000382:microbiology*; D001407:Bacillus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology