Isolation of Aerobic Bacteria Associated With Eye Infection and Their Susceptibility to Antimicrobial Agents

Abstract

Bacterial agents that caused ocular infection were studied in I60 patients. The age of patients ranged between 3 months- and 80 years. The prevalence of different types of eye infection was reported as conjunctivitis (38%), blepharitis (36%), blepharoconjunctivitis (18%), daeryoeystitis (3%), and keratitis (2%). The prevalence was found to be ll7 (73%) in males and 43 (27.8%) in females. The most susceptible age group was found between 3 months ~ l0 years than other age groups. The anaerobic culturing revealed isolation of only facultative anaerobic bacteria. The aerobic growths were identified as grain positive bacteria which were further identified as S!u_1.>/1y/0c0ccu.s' aureus (37%), Staphylococcus epiderrriidis (37%), Streptococcus" pneumoniae (lO%) \4 Streptococcus pyogcnes (3.3%), Streptococcus v/rida/is (2%), Bacillus subli/is (7.6%), and Corynebuclerium diphlheriue (4.3%). Grain-negative bacteria were identified as k/ehsiclla pneumoniae (26.4%), fzlcoli (16.1%), Enlerohacler spp (l6.l%), Haemophi/us irifluenzae (14.9%), 1’seudum0nu.s' aemginosu (10.3%), (.'r0/nubucler/mu vluluceum (6.9%), Citrobacterfrelmdii (4.6%), and /lcl/onhaci//u.\' spp (4.6%). The sensitivity of these organisms against different antibiotics was studied. The results showed that some bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus sub/I/is and Eco/I developed a resistance towards some antibiotics, like Cioxacillin, Ampicillin / sulbactam, co-trimoxazole. These results were compared with those using penicillin and chloramphenieol eye drops for the treatment of ocular infection beside other antibiotics.