Bacteriological Study of Conjunctival Swab Cultures in Diabetic Patients

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar university, Cairo, Egypt

2 Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar university, Cairo, Egypt

10.21608/ijma.2024.217439.1707

Abstract

Background: Diabetic patients are known to be at an increased risk of ocular infections due to compromised immune functions and altered ocular surface microenvironment. Conjunctival infections in diabetic individuals can lead to severe complications, highlighting the importance of understanding the bacteriological profile in this population.
The aim of the work: This study aimed to investigate the bacteriological profile of conjunctival swab cultures in diabetic patients to identify common pathogens and their relation to clinical and laboratory data.  
 Patients and Methods: A case-control study was conducted involving 160 eyes of eighty patients attending ophthalmology outpatients’ clinic at Al-Azhar University Hospitals. Conjunctival swab cultures were collected aseptically and processed for bacterial isolation and identification.
Results: In this study, 80 diabetic patients with a mean age of 51.2 ± 7.05 years were included. Bacterial growth was observed in 45% of the patients, with Coagulase-negative Staphylococci being the most commonly isolated pathogen at 30%, followed by Staphylococcus aureus. The prevalence of positive conjunctival cultures was slightly higher among patients receiving insulin compared to oral hypoglycemic drugs [OHDs], although the presence of Staph coagulase-negative, Staph aureus, and non-hemolytic streptococcus was more prominent in patients undergoing insulin therapy. However, these differences did not reach statistical significance. Furthermore, no significant correlation was found between the culture results and the levels of HbA1C among the diabetic patients.
Conclusion: The findings of this study underline the importance of regular surveillance of conjunctival infections in diabetic patients to guide appropriate antimicrobial therapy and prevent potential complications. Understanding the bacteriological spectrum and resistance patterns can aid in the development of targeted treatment strategies to improve ocular health outcomes in this vulnerable population.

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