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Article type :

Original Article

Author :

Lahari Gangapalli, B Asritha

Volume :

6

Issue :

4

Abstract :

Background: Normal conjunctival flora have important role in the healthy functioning of eye like maintenance of surface homeostasis and prevention and/or causation of ocular infection. Objective of this study is to investigate the conjunctival aerobic bacterial flora in diabetic patients and nondiabetic subjects with regard to the management of diabetes which is assessed by glycated hemoglobin levels. Materials and Methods: A prospective study carried out to compare the conjunctiva microflora in 50 diabetes mellitus type II and age matched 50 non-diabetic healthy individuals. Swab was taken from all the participants by rubbing sterile cotton swab to inferior palpebral conjunctiva. Bacterial culture processed using blood agar, chocolate agar, eosin methylene-blue lactose sucrose agar and sabouraud dextrose agar. The bacterial flora identified using microbiology procedure. Results: The rate of bacterial isolate determined as 40% and 34% in diabetes mellitus type II and nondiabetic healthy subjects. In these diabetic group, 30% positive for Staphylococcus aureus, 20% for Escherichia coli, 10% for Klebsiella pneumonia, 10% for coagulase-negative Staphylococcus and 30% for more than one bacteria. In non-diabetic group, 52.9% positive for Staphylococcus aureus, 23.5% for coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS), 5.8% for Klebsiella pneumoniae and 17.6% for more than one bacteria. There was no statistical significant difference observed in isolated bacteria in diabetic and nondiabetic groups. Gram negative bacterial colonization observed high in diabetic individuals (diabetic group, c2= 0.156, p = 0.815 and in healthy non-diabetic group, c2= 4.95, p = 0.035). Conclusion: Bacterial isolates were lower in diabetics younger than 40 years of age compared with older than 60 years of age. The conjunctival bacterial flora in diabetics differ from non-diabetic subjects. This should be considered preoperatively and postoperatively, for prophylactic and postoperative treatment should be administered accordingly to the diabetic patients.