[Bacteriological findings in conjunctival smears]

Between February and December 1981 a total of 2,053 conjunctival smears were taken on chocolate agar plates. Of these specimens, 1,720 were taken from clear, noninflamed eyes on the day preceding intraocular surgery; 202 (11.7%) of the smears were positive. The most common pathogens were gram-positive cocci (119 X) and Staphylococcus aureus (47 X). In 333 cases the smears were taken from the anterior segments of eyes with manifest infection and inflammatory signs. In this group pathogens grew on 95 smears (26%), the most common being gram-positive cocci (92 X) and Staphylococcus aureus (32 X). As more than one pathogen grew in 80 of the 95 smear cultures, a total of 174 pathogens were found in this group.