STEPHEN JOSEPH AND K. FAT HIMATHU ZUHARA
Abstract
Cojunctival specimens of total 101 patients undergoing surgery were cultured pre operatively and post operatively. Eighty-three potential pathogenic bacterial isolates obtained from pre surgery smears and predominant organisms were Staphylococcus epidermidis (49.4%), Staphylococcus aureus (26.5%), Pseudomonas sp. (13.3%) and V.-hemolytic Streptococci (10.8%). Out of the 38 post surgery isolates, important organisms were Staphylococcus aureus (34.3%), 3-hemolytic Streptococci (28.9%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (18.4%) and Pseudomonas sp. (18.4%). Both pre and post operative cultures were positive in 25% of patients. Antibiotic sensitivity studies revealed ciprofloxacin and gentamycin as the drug of choice against ocular bacterial pathogens. Multiple drug resistance was a common character among post surgery isolates.