Normal conjunctival flora and their antibiotic sensitivity in Omanis undergoing cataract surgery

To evaluate the normal conjunctival flora and to ascertain their sensitivity to antibiotics. Prospective study was undertaken with 56 patients scheduled for cataract surgery. In each of these patients, conjunctival swab was taken from both eyes before instilling any antibiotic drops or local anesthetics and were sent for culture sensitivity by inoculating the samples in blood agar plates. The un-operated eyes served as controls for the study. The results were tabulated and analyzed by applying confidence intervals at 95% confidence limits. Of the 112 eyes studied, positive cultures were obtained from 54 eyes [48.3%] preoperatively, and included both operated and control eyes. Coagulase-negative staphylococcus was isolated in 44 eyes [81.5%]. Maximum sensitivity was found with vancomycin, gentamycin, chloramphenicol, and ciprofloxacin and maximum resistance with fusidic acid, penicillin, and oxacillin. We conclude that coagulase-negative staphylococcus are the most common bacteria isolated from the conjunctival sac, and vancomycin followed by gentamycin and ciprofloxacin are most effective against normal conjunctiva l flora, and fusidic acid the most ineffective of all the antibiotics tested

retrospective study of fungal corneal ulcers in the south Sharqiyah region in Oman

To study the incidence, identify the risk factors and determine the predominant microorganisms and treatment regimen of fungal corneal ulcers. This was a retrospective analysis of corneal ulcers treated in the Ophthalmology Department of Sur Hospital, Oman, undertaken from January 2004 to December 2007. Medical and microbiology records of thirty two culture proven cases of fungal keratitis were reviewed for risk factors, laboratory findings and response to treatment. Out of the total 242 corneal ulcers, 13.22% were fungal. Among the 102 culture positive cases, 31.38% were fungal isolates. Fusarium spp [50%] and Aspergillus spp [34.4%] predominated in the hyaline fungal spectrum. The important risk factors were topical steroid usage in 31.25% of cases and ocular injury in 25%. The majority of cases [90.62%] responded to 2% ketoconazole alone or in combination with 0.15% amphotericin B. Fungal ulcer remains one of the leading causes of visual disability. Indiscriminate use of topical steroids and ocular trauma are the most important risk factors. Filamentous fungi are common aetiological agents in this region. Topical ketoconazole and amphotericin B were very effective for most of the cases

Klebsiella pneumonia: an emerging pathogen pyogenic liver abscess

Before 1980's the most common cause of pyogenic liver abscess was Escherichia coli but more recently Klebsiella pneumonia is being increasingly reported in patients from Asia countries and United States. This report focuses on two cases of pyogenic liver abscess caused by the emerging pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae in a regional hospital diagnosed and treated successfully