Antimicrobial Drugs in Prophylaxis of Complications after Cataract Phacoemulsification

Purpose
To study effectiveness of topical antimicrobial drugs in combination with antiseptic agents for prevention of postoperative infectious complications of cataract phacoemulsification.

Material and methods
We examined 240 patients prior to elective cataract phacoemulsification. All patients instilled antimicrobal drops into the eye to be operated according to two schemes. Microbiological examination of the content of the conjunctival sac after drop administration before the surgery and immediately after the surgery was performed in all patients.

Results
Preoperatively, microbial contamination on the conjunctiva was found in 128 patients (53,3%). Coagulase-negative staphylococcus (31,2%) and diphtheroids (41,4%) were the most abundant. In the first scheme of treatment, significant reduction of microbial contamination is recorded only after Tobrex instillations. Two-days prophylaxis significantly reduced microbial contamination in all studied groups. No reliable difference between drugs was found. There was no significant difference between two schemes.

Conclusions
Administration of local antimicrobal drugs significantly inhibits bacterial contamination of the conjunctiva. Torbex had the highest antimicrobial effect in one-hour scheme of prophylaxis while all drugs were similar by effectiveness in three-day scheme.