Isolation and identification of aerobic bacteria associated with eye infection in human

Abstract

This study was concerned primarily with the isolation and identification of aerobic bacteria associated with human ocular infection in Khartoum State. Eye swabs were collected from 68 patients of different age groups including infants, children and adults. The collection of specimens was made during the period from September to November (2002) and from January to March (2003). Bacteria were isolated from (55.8%) of total number of the samples collected from patients with eye infection. The isolated Gram- positive bacteria were Staphylococci species which amounted to (60.9%) as the most commonly cause of eye infection. Streptococci species and Corynebacterium xerosis were also isolated. The isolated Gram-negative bacteria were Branhamella catarahlis, Moraxella spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Klebsiella pneumonia. Staphylococcus simulans, Staphylococcus chromogenes and Pseudomonas fluorescens were isolated for the first time in this study from ocular infection. 5 Antibiotic sensitivity tests were made and about (76.9%) of all isolated bacteria were sensitive to gentamycin which was the drug of choice; however, (79.4%) were highly resistant to ampicillin. In contrast Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae were found resistant to chloramphenicol; the commonly used antibiotic for the treatment of ocular infection.