FP351 : Normal bacterial flora of human conjunctiva and their susceptibility patterns

Dr.Philip Aloysius Thomas, P03184

AIM: To evaluate the normal conjunctival bacterial flora and their in vitro susceptibility to commonly used preoperative antibacterial. Methods: Pre-operative (cataract surgery) conjunctival swabs of 100 eyes that yielded bacterial growth in culture were analysed. Main outcome measures studied were predominant bacterial isolates and their susceptibility patterns to the commonly used preoperative antibacterials. Results: Of 100 bacterial isolates recovered, Staphylococcus epidermidis (86%) was the most frequent isolate followed by Staphylococcus aureus (7%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (3), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2), Bacillus sp and Enterobacter sp one each. A high percentage (75.6%) of S.epidermidis was susceptible to tobramycin, then ofloxacin (41.8%) and gatifloxacin (38.37%). Fewer isolates were susceptible to moxifloxacin. Conclusion: S. epidermidis is the most common bacterium isolated from conjunctiva. Tobramycin or ofloxacin may be chosen for preoperative use.