Analytical Study of Conjunctival Bacterial Flora in Diabetic and Non Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Conjunctiva is a transparent mucous membrane that lines inside of the eyelids and covers the sclera. It is composed of non keratinised, stratified columnar epithelium with goblet cells. Normal microbial flora constitutes organisms which are present in eyelids and conjunctiva without causing any disease. At birth eyes are sterile but they are later infected by various organisms. Gram positive organisms are mostly prevalent in ocular flora. Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial disease that can affect all ocular structures. Aim: To compare the microbial flora between diabetic and non diabetic patients and to study there sensitivity to antibiotics. Materials and Methods: This was an analytical study conducted on a total of 100 patients attending Department of Opthalmology of Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, India between June 2019 to July 2019. They were not using any topical ocular preparation. Conjunctival swab was taken from upper fornix of the patients and cultured and the results obtained were analysed using Chi-Square test. Results: Conjunctival flora of a total of 100 patients, 30 diabetic and 70 non diabetic, were screened. Among the 30 diabetic patients, there were 15 (50%) male and 15 (50%) female. The most common isolated bacteria in diabetic and non diabetic groups were staphylococcus aureus (diabetic 70%, non diabetic 85.7%). There was a statistically significant difference in microbial flora pattern between the diabetic and non diabetic group. There was higher proportion of staphylococcus epidermidis among diabetic patients compared to non diabetic patients (p-value<0.01) and there was a higher proportion of staphylococcus aureus among non diabetics (p-value<0.01). Conclusion: Present study found statistically significant difference in the microbial flora between diabetics and non diabetics. This will help the clinician to plan for the antibiotic prophylaxis before surgery for patients attending the Out Patient Department (OPD).