Clinical and microbiological features of acute bacterialconjunctivitis at the primary eye care unit in a hospital of centralItaly

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 infl uenzae 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 infl uenzae and Staphylococcus aureus. Guidelines on the management of conjunctivitis recommend antibiotic routine use where bacterial infection is suspected. Th is study provides a support in rational choice of empiric therapy with distinct regional preferences in the topical agent to be used.