Conjunctival flora in patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs

The bacterial, fungal, and viral flora of the conjunctiva were compared in patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs and in a control group of patients seen for routine eye examinations. The lysozyme concentration of the patients' tears was also measured. No significant difference was found in the number of positive cultures nor in tear lysozyme content in the two groups. A positive correlation was noted between increasing doses of prednisone and the number of bacterial organisms found in the patients' conjunctiva.