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Climate may influence rate of endophthalmitis

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Conjunctival bacteria in patients undergoing cataract extraction may have a seasonal prevalence pattern in some locales, according to a Spanish study. Surgeons should consider such variations as possible predisposing conditions for the occurrence of endophthalmitis, the study author said.

E.F. Rubio reported the results of cultured samples taken from the lower conjunctivae of 4,432 patients undergoing cataract surgery at the University General Hospital in Madrid over the course of 2 years. He analyzed the prevalence of conjunctival bacterial strains in these patients by month, as well as the dates of rehospitalization for endophthalmitis.

He found that the total frequency of conjunctival bacteria increased in April, May and June, when average temperatures in Madrid range from 12° to 22°C and relative humidity ranges between 45% and 60%. Rehospitalization for endophthalmitis after cataract extraction during May and June was 3.37 times higher than in the other months.

The study is published in the Feb. 27 online edition of Eye.