title: [Microbial flora isolated from patient's conjunctiva previous to cataract surgery].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endophtalmitis post cataract surgery is one of most feared and devastating complications resulting in serious consequences and an uncertain visual prognosis. Antimicrobial prophylaxis against endophtalmitis must be based on the best knowledge of conjuntival microbiota.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish microbiological basis for the best antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent endophthalmitis in cataract surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive, cross-sectional, prospective study. A preoperative conjunctival sample was taken from the lower fornix of 118 pacients, sowing it immediately in culture media. Identification of growing colonies and susceptibility testing were performed by manual or automated methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  106 (89.8%) of 118 preoperative cultures were positive. 159 bacteria were isolated in single or mixed flora, with 95% of Gram positive organisms. Staphylococci represented 76.1% of isolated bacteria, with 82.6% of coagulase-negative staphylococci (SCN) and 17.4% of Staphylococcus aureus. Forty two percent of SCN and 38% of S. aureus were methicillin resistan; both groups showed high susceptibility to tobramycin and fourth-generation fluoroquinolones.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  we recommend the use of topical tobramycin as pre-operative antimicrobial prophylaxis associated with povidone-iodine antisepsis. A fourth-generation quinolone is recommended when there is risk of infection.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barría von-B
authors.forename: Henriette
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chabouty
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Freddy
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barría M
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000382:microbiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D052978:Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents