Antibiotics in irrigation solution for cataract surgery. A laboratory investigation of the pharmacological stability and bacteriological susceptibility.

To evaluate the appropriateness of a prophylactic use of Gentamicin and Vancomycin in the irrigation solution for cataract surgery.A laboratory study of the pharmacological stability and the bacteriological susceptibility of the two antibiotics and epinephrine in the irrigation solution.Gentamicin and Vancomycin are pharmacologically stable in concentrations above the MIC-values of most Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria without reaching toxic levels.Although it seems tempting to add Gentamicin and Vancomycin in irrigation solutions for cataract surgery, major objections to such a prophylactic use of antibiotics have been stated, specially focusing on the risk of emerging resistance to the antibiotics, and the financial implications.