Cataract surgery infections rise due to antibiotic resistance
HYDERABAD: Unregulated use of antibiotics without medical advice is increasing multi-drug resistance (MDR), rendering commonly prescribed drugs ineffective, a new study by specialists at LV Prasad Eye Institute has found.
Doctors observed a rise in eye infections, including cataract endophthalmitis, among some patients who had undergone cataract surgery. The infections persisted as antibiotics administered during surgery failed to work, the study said.
The research covered 410 patients across LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad and other hospitals nationwide. MDR was confirmed in 32 patients, accounting for 7.8% of the total sample. The findings were published in the latest issue of Retina.
“Antibiotics are not working in many patients after cataract surgery, delaying recovery from infection,” doctors said. They identified the growth of gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas as a key cause, commonly referred to as “superbugs”.
These bacteria possess an additional outer membrane around the cell wall, which often prevents antibiotics from penetrating effectively. Resistance to gram-negative bacteria like Pseudomonas was found in about 87.5% of cases, while 93% of patients showed resistance to more than one antibiotic.
As a result, infections take longer to subside after cataract surgery. Doctors said older antibiotics are proving ineffective, forcing them to prescribe stronger drugs. This, in turn, leads to longer hospital stays and higher treatment costs for patients.
