Comparison of conjunctival microflora in patients undergoing cataract surgery

Purpose: To isolate the bacterial flora from the conjunctival sac in patients undergoing cataract surgery and to determine the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of these organisms. Methods: A total of 500 cases both men and women were included in this study. Specimen were taken 1 day prior to the surgery from the conjunctival sac of the patients and then cultured for isolation of the bacteria along-with antibiotic sensitivity testing if any culture came positive. The percentage of bacterial isolates and the drug resistant isolates were compared. The study was conducted for a period of 18 months after obtaining a written and informed consent from all the patients. All forms of cataract in all age groups with the absence of any associated ocular infection were included in this study. Patients with prior history of any ocular infectious diseases and traumatic cataracts were excluded from this study. Results: Out of the 500 cases, 61 (12.2%) had positive cultures. The most frequently isolated bacterium was the Staphylococcus aureus found in 44(72.13%) cases, followed by coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) from 11(18.03%) cases, both showing high sensitivity to cefpodoxime (65%), cefuroxime (67%), gentamicin (74%), ciprofloxacin (72%) and vancomycin (83%), amoxycillin and clavulanic acid (53.5%) and methicillin (59%). Methicillin resistant strains were noted in 19.36% eyes. Conclusion: The most frequent bacterium in the conjunctival flora is the Staphylococcus aureus with high susceptibility rates to cefpodoxime, cefuroxime, gentamicin, vancomycin, ciprofloxacin and augmentin.