Normal Conjunctival Flora as Seen in Adult Patients at Kigali University Teaching Hospital

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of normal ocular bacterial flora isolated from patients attending the Department of ophthalmology at the Kigali University Teaching Hospital and to evaluate their in vitro susceptibility to common antimicrobial agents. From June to October 2011; collection of specimen was performed by rotating a sterile cotton swab on the lower conjunctival sac from the temporal to the medial fornix. Gram stain and culture was performed and antibiotic sensitivity determined in case of bacterial growth. Of the 120 collected samples; 74 (61.6) showed bacterial growth and all were gram positive. 48.6 were Staphylococcus aureus ; while 51.4 were Staphylococcus epidermidis. There was high sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus to chloramphenicol (100); clindamycine (92); oxacilline (86.7); ciprofloxacine (76.7) and norfloxacine (71.9). However; there was a high resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to penicilline G (11.1) and tetracycline (52.8). Staphylococcus epidermidis was highly sensitive to chloramphenicol (71.9) and oxacilline (71.1) while it was resistant to erythromycine (28.6); norfloxacine (35.3) and penicilline G (40.6 In this study; all of the isolated pathogens were revealed to be gram-positive bacteria. Chloramphenicol; clindamycine and oxacilline showed good activity against normal flora of the ocular surface and should be used in prevention of post-operative end ophtalmitis