Determination of susceptibility of causal agents of bacterial conjunctivitis to antibiotics: Federal Medical Center, Imo State, Nigeria as Case Study

The prevalence and sensitivity pattern of common bacterial isolates from conjunctival specimen were investigated. Standard methods were adopted in the collection of samples from neonates, men and women and screening of the isolates. Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus aegyptus were the predominant pathogens cultured, representing 28.12%, 23.08% and 19.23% respectively. Escherichia coli, Neisseria and Corynebacterium species were also isolated in different proportions. Some of the isolates are resistant to the antibiotics tested. Staphylococcus aureus for instance recorded 100% resistance to nitrofurantoin, ceporex, ampicillin, nilidixic acid, tetracycline and cotrimoxazole. Streptococcus pneumoniae, one of the most frequent isolates was 100 % resistance to, tetracycline and cotrimoxazole. All the isolates were resistant to chloramphenicol. Dust in the environment, infection from the birth canals of mothers, use of eye protective devices such as eye patches, contaminated hands and body surfaces as well as inadequate surgical procedures had been reported as potential sources of causative agents of conjunctivitis. The prevalence of multiple drug resistant conjunctival bacteria had been documented. Multiple antibiotic resistances are increasingly common in Staphylococcus aureus and Neisseria gonorrhea, which are major cause of nosocomial infection in hospital environment. Genetics of causal agents of conjunctivitis has been proved to be of great importance as a clone of non-typeable Streptococcus pneumoniae had been implicated in sporadic cases of conjunctivitis. Use of basofloxacin and related antibiotics in combination had proved effective, but the technology and administration of this potent remedy is not available to the rural dwellers were the disease is still prevalent. Therefore, suggestions are made to provide medical facilities to all and sundry and also to enforce rational drug use and laboratory investigation before any prescription and administration.