TITLE:
Risk Factors for Conjunctival Microorganism Colonization in Adults Undergoing Intraocular Surgery
AUTHORS:
Orly Halachmi-Eyal, Yoram Keness, Yaron Lang, Daniel Briscoe, Dan Miron
KEYWORDS:
Conjunctiva; Culture; Bacteria; Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus; Cataract; Shower; Climate
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ophthalmology,
Vol.2 No.2,
May
28,
2012
ABSTRACT: Purpose: To assess prevalence of and risk factors for conjunctival colonization and types of organisms among adults undergoing elective intraocular surgery. Setting: Ha’Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel. Methods: A prospective study conducted in the Ophthalmology Department at Ha’Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel between May 1, 2006 and August 31, 2007. Included were adults undergoing elective intraocular surgeries. Conjunctival cultures were obtained from the lower fornix, prior to application of prophylactic decolonization treatment and were processed using routine microbiological techniques. Demographic, socioeconomic and medical data of our patient cohort were obtained from all participants. Results: Cultures were obtained from 501 patients. (Mean age 69.7 ± 12.0 years) of whom 52.1% were females. In 208 patients (40.5%) bacteria grew in conjunctival cultures, one type in 175 (34.9%) one, and two types in 28 (5.6%). In none fungi were isolated. Coagulase negative Staphylococcus was the most frequent bacteria isolated. By multivariate analysis, significant risk factors for conjunctival bacterial colonization were spring/summer seasons (OR 1.64, CI 1.15 - 2.36, P