EVALUATION OF CONJUNCTIVE MICROBIAL FLORA IN PATIENTS PRESENTING TO EYE WARD OF HAZRAT RASUL-e AKRAM HOSPITAL, TEHRAN, (1999-2000)

Conjunctival microbial flora is the main source of organisms causing postoperative endophthalmitis. Therefore this study has been performed to evaluate this flora in patients undergoing intraocular surgery. This nonselective study was done prospectively on 251 eyes of 211 patients who underwent intraocular surgery during 1378-1379 (1999-2000 AD) in Hazrat Rasul-e Akram hospital, Tehran, Iran. Specimens for microbial culture were taken from operated eyes in 100 patients, from opposite eyes in 71 patients, and from both eyes in 40 patients. This sampling was done just before the onset of surgery. All specimens were evaluated for bacteria and 100 specimens were also evaluated for fungi. Findings were classified and analyzed statistically. From 251 eyes, 56.6% had positive culture for at least one and 1.6% for two different bacteria. The isolated bacteria were Staphylococcus epidermidis 50.6% Staphylococcus aureus 3.6%, Bacillus species 1.6%, E.coli 1.2%, Actinomyces 0.8% and diphtheroids 0.4%. Fungi were found in 3% of appropriate cultures. Flora of both eyes showed no statistically significant difference. As mentioned in previous reports, this tudy showed that microbial agents were isolated from conjunctive in more than half of the eyes. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common isolated bacteria. In order to prevent postoperative endophthamitis, measures should be taken to decrease floral population before eye surgery.