Normal ocular flora in healthy eyes from a rural population in Sierra Leone

J. A. Capriotti; J. S. Pelletier; M. Shah; D. M. Caivano; D. C. Ritterband

doi:10.1007/s10792-008-9196-4

Normal ocular flora in healthy eyes from a rural population in Sierra Leone

J. A. Capriotti, J. S. Pelletier, M. Shah, D. M. Caivano, D. C. Ritterband

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

63 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To identify the normal conjunctival flora in a rural population in Sierra Leone and compare the normal ocular flora of a developing country with that of the developed world. Methods: Conjunctival swabs obtained from healthy right eyes of 276 residents of Masungbo, Sierra Leone, were analyzed for growth of microorganisms. Results: The most commonly isolated organisms from conjunctival swabs of healthy eyes were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (28.6%), fungus (26.0%), Staphylococcus aureus (19.9%), Gram negatives other than Pseudomonas/Haemophilus (9.8%), Nocardia/Actinomyces (6.5%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6.2%). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of fungal and bacterial colonization of healthy eyes in a rural population of Sierra Leone. A relationship may exist between resident normal flora and the etiology of ocular infections.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	81-84
Number of pages	4
Journal	International Ophthalmology
Volume	29
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-008-9196-4
State	Published - 2009
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Conjunctiva
Cornea
Normal flora
Ocular surface
Sierra Leone

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10.1007/s10792-008-9196-4

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title = "Normal ocular flora in healthy eyes from a rural population in Sierra Leone",

abstract = "Purpose: To identify the normal conjunctival flora in a rural population in Sierra Leone and compare the normal ocular flora of a developing country with that of the developed world. Methods: Conjunctival swabs obtained from healthy right eyes of 276 residents of Masungbo, Sierra Leone, were analyzed for growth of microorganisms. Results: The most commonly isolated organisms from conjunctival swabs of healthy eyes were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (28.6%), fungus (26.0%), Staphylococcus aureus (19.9%), Gram negatives other than Pseudomonas/Haemophilus (9.8%), Nocardia/Actinomyces (6.5%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6.2%). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of fungal and bacterial colonization of healthy eyes in a rural population of Sierra Leone. A relationship may exist between resident normal flora and the etiology of ocular infections.",

keywords = "Conjunctiva, Cornea, Normal flora, Ocular surface, Sierra Leone",

author = "Capriotti, {J. A.} and Pelletier, {J. S.} and M. Shah and Caivano, {D. M.} and Ritterband, {D. C.}",

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doi = "10.1007/s10792-008-9196-4",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Normal ocular flora in healthy eyes from a rural population in Sierra Leone

AU - Capriotti, J. A.

AU - Pelletier, J. S.

AU - Shah, M.

AU - Caivano, D. M.

AU - Ritterband, D. C.

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - Purpose: To identify the normal conjunctival flora in a rural population in Sierra Leone and compare the normal ocular flora of a developing country with that of the developed world. Methods: Conjunctival swabs obtained from healthy right eyes of 276 residents of Masungbo, Sierra Leone, were analyzed for growth of microorganisms. Results: The most commonly isolated organisms from conjunctival swabs of healthy eyes were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (28.6%), fungus (26.0%), Staphylococcus aureus (19.9%), Gram negatives other than Pseudomonas/Haemophilus (9.8%), Nocardia/Actinomyces (6.5%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6.2%). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of fungal and bacterial colonization of healthy eyes in a rural population of Sierra Leone. A relationship may exist between resident normal flora and the etiology of ocular infections.

AB - Purpose: To identify the normal conjunctival flora in a rural population in Sierra Leone and compare the normal ocular flora of a developing country with that of the developed world. Methods: Conjunctival swabs obtained from healthy right eyes of 276 residents of Masungbo, Sierra Leone, were analyzed for growth of microorganisms. Results: The most commonly isolated organisms from conjunctival swabs of healthy eyes were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (28.6%), fungus (26.0%), Staphylococcus aureus (19.9%), Gram negatives other than Pseudomonas/Haemophilus (9.8%), Nocardia/Actinomyces (6.5%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6.2%). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of fungal and bacterial colonization of healthy eyes in a rural population of Sierra Leone. A relationship may exist between resident normal flora and the etiology of ocular infections.

KW - Conjunctiva

KW - Cornea

KW - Normal flora

KW - Ocular surface

KW - Sierra Leone

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Normal ocular flora in healthy eyes from a rural population in Sierra Leone

Abstract

Keywords

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