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Clinical and microbiological features of acute bacterial conjunctivitis at the primary eye care unit in a hospital of central Italy
Author(s) -
FRUSCHELLI M,
MONTAGNANI F,
PARADISO A,
STOLZUOLI L,
ZANCHI A,
MOTOLESE I,
MOTOLESE E
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2008.634.x-i1
Subject(s) - bacterial conjunctivitis , streptococcus pneumoniae , haemophilus influenzae , medicine , staphylococcus aureus , microbiology and biotechnology , gentamicin , antibiotics , chloramphenicol , bacteria , biology , genetics
Purpose Aim of this study is to identify bacteria causing conjunctivitis in a central Italian area and to analyze their chemosusceptibility. Methods From 2005 to 2006, 91 conjunctival swabs were collected from acute conjunctivitis cases who were examined in the primary eye care unit at the "S. Maria alle Scotte" Hospital in Siena. All swabs collected were screened for common bacteria and fungi. Susceptibility tests were performed on isolates. Results Isolated bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae for an amount of 86.2%. Overall, 100% of strains were susceptible to chloramphenicol and 96.6% to quinolones. Conversely, 20.7% of isolates were tetracycline‐resistant and, even if all Gram negative isolates were susceptible to gentamicin, more frequently isolated pneumococci are constitutively resistant. Conclusion Acute “red eye” is one of the commonest reasons for consultation with primary eye care physicians; in the majority of cases an acute bacterial conjunctivitis is diagnosed, the pathogens most frequently responsible are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Staphylococcus aureus. Guidelines on the management of conjunctivitis recommend antibiotic routine use where bacterial infection is suspected. This study provides a support in rational choice of empiric therapy with distinct regional preferences in the topical agent to be used.