Preoperative Conjunctival Microbiota of Diabetic Patients who are Candidates for Cataract Surgery

Abstract

Introduction: The conjunctival microbiota in cataract patients may affect the postoperative course, which may become more complex in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: To determine the conjunctival microbiota in diabetic patients in the preoperative line pending cataract surgery at the Cuban Ophthalmology Institute "Ramón Pando Ferrer" from September 2018-2019.

Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, descriptive research was conducted, 45 diabetic patients, diagnosed with senile cataract, who were treated in the period and hospital mentioned above. All patients underwent conjunctival swabbing and corresponding culture. Anamnesis was performed to collect data on diabetes. The data obtained (matrix in Excel) were analyzed with SPSS 21 software, and the results were presented in frequency tables. Chi-square was used for correlation between variables.

Results: Out of the 45 patients, women predominated (57.8%), aged 60 years and older (68.9%), and with no ocular pathological history (82.2%). There was bacterial growth in 66.7% (p < 0.002). The most frequent germ was coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (48.3%).

Conclusions: The study of the preoperative conjunctival microbiota, guarantees, in part, the success of cataract surgery.