Anterior chamber fluid cultures following phacoemulsification and posterior chamber lens implantation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A randomized, prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence of positive cultures in the anterior chamber following cataract surgery when using intracameral gentamicin compared with no antibiotic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 97 patients were enrolled-48 receiving gentamicin in the irrigating solution and 49 receiving no intracameral antibiotics (control group). Each cataract extraction was accomplished by phacoemulsification followed by intraocular lens implantation. At the end of surgery, 0.1 ml of anterior chamber fluid from each case was collected and cultured. RESULTS: All cultures were negative in the group receiving gentamicin. However, one positive culture occurred in the control group. There was no significant difference in the positive culture rate between the two groups (P=.52). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that cataract extraction with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation has greatly reduced the incidence of bacterial contamination of anterior chamber fluid, with or without the use of intracameral antibiotic.