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Superbugs Threaten Sight After Cataract Surgery
8 Jan
Summary
- Drug-resistant bacteria are causing severe infections post-cataract surgery.
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a multidrug-resistant bacterium, is a growing concern.
- Last-resort antibiotics like colistin are showing emerging resistance patterns.
A critical surge in antibiotic-resistant bacteria is now jeopardizing vision following routine cataract surgeries. Doctors are increasingly observing aggressive infections, such as those caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, that defy standard antibiotic treatments. This alarming trend, linked to the global antimicrobial resistance crisis, means patients' sight can be irreversibly damaged within hours if infections are not promptly controlled.
The study from LV Prasad Eye Institute analyzed 410 post-cataract infections, revealing over 32 cases linked to multidrug-resistant bacteria. Resistance to ceftazidime, a common antibiotic for Gram-negative infections, has sharply increased, forcing reliance on colistin. Worryingly, laboratory tests indicated nearly 93% resistance to fluoroquinolones and even some resistance to colistin itself.
These findings underscore a dangerous trajectory where even powerful, last-line antibiotics are becoming less effective. Experts stress the urgent need for judicious use of existing drugs, proactive development of new treatments, and continuous monitoring of resistance patterns to safeguard patients' vision and prevent further vision loss.
