Frequency and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Bacteria Isolated in Patients with Blepharitis.

Objective: To determine the frequency and antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria isolated in patients with blepharitis. StudyDesign: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Oct 2019 to Oct 2021. Methdology: 160 cases of blepharitis, during a period of 2 years, who were not using topical or systemic antibiotics were recruited in this cross-sectional study. After detailed history and slit-lamp examination of eyelids and tears film each patient underwent sample collection under aseptic conditions, from the eyelid margin. The samples were inoculated in a culture of blood agar and chocolate agar (Biomeriux), Then the susceptibility of the identified bacteria to common systemic and topical antibiotics were tested using the disc diffusion method (Rosco Neo-Sensitab). Results: In 160 patients, 118(73.7%) were males and 42(26.3%) were females. According to type of blepharitis, 98(61.3%) had posterior blepharitis and 62(38.7%) had anterior blepharitis. Culture of eyelid sample of 77(48.1%) patients showed growth of coagulase-negative staphylococcus Coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CoNS) show greater resistance towards Penicillin 77(100%), Ciprofloxacin 55(72.5%) and Erythromycin 33(42.8%) however more susceptibility was shown towards Linezolid (CoNS). 71(45%) had Staphylococcus aureus isolated from their culture. 77(100%), Vancomycin 77(100%), Gentamycin 66(85.8%), Chloramphenicol 56(74.5%) and Cotrimoxazole 55(72.5%). Staphylococcus aureus show greater resistance towards Penicillin 72(100%), Ciprofloxacin 41(56.9%) and Tetracyclins 30(41.6%) however more susceptibility was found towards Gentamycin 72(100%), Linezolid 72(100%), Vancomycin 72(100%) and Chloramphenicol 61(84.7%). Conclusion: Coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CoNS) and Staphylococcus aureus have been the main isolated organisms in blepharitis. These bacteria have been shown to be resistant to Penicillin, Ciprofloxacain Erythromycin and Tetracyclins However both are highly Sensitive to Vancomycin and Linezolid along with Significant Sensitivity towards Chloamphenicol, Gentamycin, Amoxicillin-Clavulanate and Cotrimoxazole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]