Acute bacterial infections of the eye: their aetiology and treatment

The aerobic microbial flora of 823 eyes with acute bacterial conjunctivitis, corneal ulceration, dacryocystitis, discharging sockets, blepharitis, and postoperative infections has been investigated. Staphylococci, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and nonfermenting Gram-negative bacilli including Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the main pathogens. Fermenting coliforms were also infrequently isolated. The least overall resistance of 30.9% was to chloramphenicol, but no one antibiotic was effective against all pathogens. Cloxacillin is the best drug for staphylococcal and polymyxin B for pseudomonas infections.