BACTERIAL FLORA IN RELATION TO CATARACT EXTRACTION

In 499 patients operated on for cataract, the clinical postoperative signs of extraocular inflammation (conjunctival hyperaemia, chemosis, discharge and oedema of the lids), the number of infiltrates around the corneoscleral sutures, and the severity of intraocular inflammation in the anterior chamber (aqueous‐flare) were assessed on the fourth postoperative day and correlated with the bacterial conjunctival flora examined both qualitatively and quantitatively on the same day. Patients with potential pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, gram‐negative bacilli and streptococci) on the conjunctiva following operation did not show any increased inflammatory reactions when compared with those without such pathogens. The quantity of bacteria, i. e. number of colonies, did not appear to play a role. The reasons are discussed.