Prophylactic antibiotics in cataract surgery.

The value of preoperative cultures, sensitivity tests and prophylactic preoperative antibiotic treatment was evaluated in a group of senile, uncomplicated lens extractions. Sulfacetamide or a mixture of chloramphenicol and polymixin were applied preoperatively for 1 week and an injection of penicillin and streptomycin was given postoperatively. A control group of 140 cases without treatment was also studied. No postoperative infections developed in either group. The number of pathogenic cultures was significantly smaller in the treated group as compared with the untreated one; the mixture of chloramphenicol and polymixin B sulfate was found to be superior to sulfacetamide, different clinical data was compared in the two groups. No postoperative infections developed in either group.