DR. MRIDULA SHETTY

Dr.Shruthi Tara

Abstract

AIM-To determine the time for normalization of the conjunctival flora following DCR

DESIGN-Prospective interventional case study

METHOD-Conjunctival swabs were obtained preoperatively from the involved eye and normal eye of 40 patients with unilateral chronic dacryocystitis and NLDO and were inoculated on Blood agar plate. External DCR was performed and antibiotics were not included in the postoperative treatment. Postoperatively conjunctival swabs were obtained from the operated side weekly until the result of the cultures were negative or the colony count was less than that of the normal side.

RESULTS-The mean normalization time of conjunctival flora was 2.15±1.09 weeks after DCR, ranging from 1 to 5 weeks without the use of topical or systemic antibiotics. Preoperatively, the most commonly grown bacteria was Coagulase negative Staphylococci.

CONCLUSION- Any intraocular surgery should be performed 5 weeks after External DCR to minimize the risk of postoperative endophthalmitis.

Full Text