Microbial Flora of The Conjunctival Sac in Prosthesis Wearers

Lew, Helen; Lee, Sang Yeul; Kim, Hong Bok

Abstract

Persistent physical stimulation and foreign body contact in prosthesis wearers may develop secondary infection, frequent conjunctival injection and responses such as giant papillary conjunctivitis. In 77 patients wearing prostheses, the bilateral conjunctival flora was studied and compared with the expect of conjunctival floral change. The predominent organisms were essentially the same in both sides: Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus followed by streptococcus. The incidence of bacterial isolation on the anophthalmic side (67.5%) was significantly higher than on the healthy side (32.5%). Especially the incidence of potential pathogenic bacterial isolation(Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus, Gram negative bacilli)(27.9%) was significantly higher on the anophthalmic side than on the healthy side(6.5%). The conjunctival smear study showed the higher incidence of polymorpho nucleoleukocyte and bacteria on the anophthalmic side. The isolation rates of the moderate to marked responded conjunctiva(46.9%) was lower than on the mild responded conjunctiva(69.2%) . The wearing time of the prostheses, the frequency of cleaning of prostheses, type of cleaner and topical drops used did not effect the incidence of bacterial isolation of conjunctival sac. Therfore these results showed that persistent physical stimulation and foreign body contact with prosthesis wearing may alter the microbial flora of the conjunctival sac.