A study to compare the conjunctival flora of non-diabetic individuals with that of diabetic patients

Abstract

Background: The conjunctiva is a thin, transparent and humid membrane which covers the sclera and inner surface of eyelids. The tears film helps to moist the conjunctiva. In a healthy person, surface tissues such as skin and mucous membranes are constantly in contact with environmental organisms and become colonised by various micro-organisms, bacteria and fungi which are referred to as normal flora. Aim: To compare the conjunctival flora of non-diabetic individuals with that of diabetic patients. Methodology: A prospective study for comparison of conjunctival flora of 50 non-diabetic individuals with that of 50 diabetic individual patients without any pre-existing conjunctival pathology attending the Ophthalmology Out Patient Department in Vinayaka Mission’s Kirupanada Variyar Medical College and Hospital, Salem, Tamil Nadu, which is 560 bedded hospital having all inpatients and outpatient services. Conjunctival swab was collected from each patient and inoculation of conjunctival swab for microscopy and culture and sensitivity was done. Identification of Bacteria were made using Standard Bacteriological methods. Result: We found a significant difference in bacterial isolation rate between the diabetic and non-diabetic groups. Conclusion: Organisms such as coagulase negative staphylococcus, gram negative bacteria such as E. coli, klebsiella and bacteroids were found to be more common among the diabetic patients than that of non-diabetic patients.