Applied Microbiology: Open Access
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Research - (2020)Volume 6, Issue 1

Incidence of Bacterial Conjunctivitis among Patients attending Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Akinseye Janet Fumilayo1, Obebe Olusola2, AO Komolafe2, Agunlejika Richard Adedokun2 and Ayuba Sunday Buru3*
 
*Correspondence: Ayuba Sunday Buru, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Genomic Research Laboratory, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria, Email:

Author info »

Abstract

Conjunctivitis infection is associated with purulent discharge, swelling of the eyelid and itching. In the bacteria infection, a crust of sticky muco-purulent discharge is present. Here we highlight the aetiological agent of bacterial conjunctivitis and their antibiogram pattern. About 120 patients were examined for bacterial conjunctivitis at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex Ile-Ife. 90 of the patients had bacterial conjunctivitis indicating a prevalence rate of 75%, male patients had prevalent of (76.4%), while female patients (73.8%). In relation to age group of patients, 11-20 years (25.6%) had the highest prevalence of bacterial conjunctivitis followed by age <12 months (22.2%), while the prevalence for other ages were 1-10 years (17.7%), 21-30 years (16.7%), 31-40 years and 41-50 years (5.6%) each, 51-60 years (4.4%) and 61-70 years (2.2%), bacterial isolates obtain most was Staphylococcus aureus with a prevalence of 53.3% while the least was Escherichia coli, 3.3%. Staphylococcus epidermidis (14.4%), Klebsiella and Pseudomonas species (11.1%) each and Proteus species (6.7%). All isolated bacteria were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility. For gram-positive isolates, 61 where sensitive to Rocephin antibiotic having 90.8% efficacy, followed by Cefuroxime (72.1%), Cloxacillin (67.2%), Gentamycin (57.4%), Erythromycin (55.7%), Streptomycin (52.5%), Chloramphenicol (41.0%), Ceftazidine (36.1%), Tetracycline (29.5%), Ampicillin (9.8%) and Penicillin (1.6%). Also, all Gram negative isolates, 29 in number were sensitive to Rocephin (89.7%), Gentamycin (65.5%), Streptomycin (51.7%), Tetracycline (51.7%), Colistin (48.3%), Ceftazidine (41.4%), Coltrimoxazole (34.5%), Cefuroxime (10.3%) and Ampicillin was found to be resistant. Most of the bacterial isolated, showed high sensitivity to antibiotics especially the Gram-positive isolates to commonly used antibiotics for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis, while the gram negative isolates showed varying degree of sensitivity with some bacterial isolates being resistant to ampicillin

Keywords

Conjunctiva; Bacterial conjunctivitis; Anti-biogram; Apollo II

Introduction

The conjunctiva as described is a transparent membrane, which is attached to the sclera at the margins of the cornea, with which it blends. It is loosely attached over the anterior part of the sclera and thence reflected to the inner surface of the eyelids [1]. It is firmly attached to the tarsal plates and blends with the skin at the margin of the lids. The conjunctival sac in normal newborns is usually sterile at birth and becomes contaminated soon afterward by organisms either saprophytic or parasitic in nature. In such cases, it is referred to as conjunctivitis. Just about the time that the Apollo II space ship hit the moon surface in July, 1969, this eye disease conjunctivitis hit Accra, Ghana and in line with the tropical African sense of humour, the people of Accra named the eye disease Apollo as it was believed that the disease was brought to earth by Apollo II astronauts [2].

Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye is characterized by infection and redness of the conjunctiva with clear to purulent discharge, swelling of the eyelid and itching, which usually indicate allergic conjunctivitis. In the bacteria form, a crust of sticky muco-purulent discharge is present. Upper respiratory infection and fever may be associated with conjunctivitis particularly when due adenovirus type 3 or 7. Allergic conjunctivitis may be associated with the seasonal rhinitis of hay fever [3].

Besides the cases of primary infections, there were many cases with secondary infections, probably, the result of using contaminated solutions for bathing the eyes. These cases presented with similar features, but with added purulent or muco-purulent discharge, cornea ulceration and its complication. Since people believe that astronaut Apollo II brought conjunctivitis, when his ship hit the moon surface in 1969, therefore, for this investigation [2].

This project is designed to determine the incidence of bacteria conjunctivitis, relationship of conjunctivitis and age of patients, aetiological agent of conjunctivitis and the antibiogram pattern of the infection.

Materials and Methods

The samples for this survey were obtained from both in and out patients who reported at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife. Clinical diagnosed for conjunctivitis or ophthalmia neonatorum constituted the study population. Before this study there is no record or statistical data reflecting the antibiotic usage of antibiotics for the treatment of conjunctivitis. Neonates and adults presenting with purulent exudates from the eyes and itching were included for these studies, while those with history of bacterial conjunctivitis were excluded from the study. Patients participating in this study were informed and they gave their written permission before they were examined and samples collected. Laboratory diagnosis of bacterial conjunctivitis was carried out based on the microscopy and cultural analysis of specimen collected from patients [4]. Organisms isolated by cultural methods were further identified by various biochemical tests [5] and their susceptibility to antibiotics was determined by Kirby baur technique [6].

Results

A total of 120 patients were bacteriologically examined for bacterial conjunctivitis. In the investigation, it was discovered that 90 of them had bacterial conjunctivitis indicating a prevalence of 75%. This research also revealed that male patients had the higher incidence of bacterial conjunctivitis (76.4%) than the female patients 73.8% (Table 1). Occurrence rate in relation to the age group of patient was also revealed by this project, 11-20 years had the highest prevalence (25.6%) of bacterial conjunctivitis, while the occurrence for other ages were as follows: <12 months (22.2%), 1-10 years (17.7%), 21-30 years (16.7%), 31-40 years and 41-50 years (5.6%), 51-60 years (4.4%) and 61-70 years (2.2%) (Table 2). Further investigation into bacterial conjunctivitis based on microbes isolated from the patients reveals that Staphylococcus aureus had the highest prevalence (53.3%), followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis (14.4%) while the other isolates were Klebsiella species and pseudomonas species (11.1%) each, Proteus species (6.7%) and Escherichia coli (3.3%) (Table 3). In this research all isolates were subjected to antibiogram. It was discovered that the most effective antibiotic for treatment of Gram positive organisms causing bacterial conjunctivitis was Rocephin (91.8%). This was followed by Cefuroxime (72.1%), Cloxacillin (67.5%), Gentamycin (57.4%), Erythromycin (55.7%), Streptomycin (52.5%), Chloramphenicol (41%), Ceftazidine (36.1%), Tetracycline (29.5%), Ampicillin (9.8%) and Penicillin (1.6%) (Table 4).

Sex No. of patients examined No. of patients positive Frequency of patients positive
Male 55 42 76.4
Female 65 48 73.8
Total 120 90 75

Table 1: Prevalence of bacterial conjunctivitis in relation sex of the patient.

Age No. of positive patients Frequency of positive patients
<12 months 20 22.2
1-10yrs 16 17.7
11-20yrs 23 25.6
21-30yrs 15 16.7
31-40yrs 5 5.6
41-50yrs 5 5.6
51-60yrs 4 4.4
61-70yrs 2 2.2
Total 90 100

Table 2: Prevalence of bacterial conjunctivitis in relation to age.

Isolates No. of isolates Frequency of isolates
Staphylococcus aureus 48 53.3
Staphylococcus epidermidis 13 14.4
Escherichia coli 3 3.3
Klebsiella species 10 11.1
pseudomonas species 10 11.1
Proteus species 6 6.7
Total 90 100

Table 3: Occurrence of bacterial Isolates among the subjects.

  Staphylococcus aureus no=48   Staphylococcus epidermidis no=13    
Antibiotics No. sensitive % No. sensitive % Total (%)
Penicillin 0 0 1 7.7 1.6
Ampicillin 6 12.5 0 0 9.8
Cloxacillin 32 66.7 9 69.2 67.2
Erythromycin 27 56.3 7 53.8 55.7
Tetracycline 15 31.3 3 23.1 29.5
Chloramphenicol 20 41.7 5 38.5 41
Streptomycin 27 56.3 5 38.5 52.5
Gentamycin 28 58.3 7 53.8 57.4
Rocephin 44 91.7 1 92.3 91.8
Cefuroxime 36 75 8 61.5 72.1
Ceftazidine 17 35.4 5 38.5 36.1

Table 4: Antibiotics Susceptibility to Gram Positive bacteria Isolates.

Out of 29 Gram negative isolated, Rocephin was found to be the best effective antibiotics (89.7%) for the treatment of Gramnegative isolates. This was followed by Gentamycin (65.5%), Streptomycin and Tetracycline (51.7%) each, Colistin (48.8%), Ceftazidine (41.4%), Coltrimoxazole (34.5%), cefuroxime (10.3%) and Ampicillin which was found to be resistant (Table 5).

  E. coli no=3   Klebsiella species no=10   pseudomonas species no=10   Proteus  species no=6   Total
Antibiotics No. sensitive % No. sensitive % No. sensitive % No. sensitive % %
Ampicillin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tetracycline 1 33.3 6 60 6 60 2 50 51.7
Streptomycin 1 33.3 5 50 6 60 3 50 51.7
Gentamycin 2 66.7 7 70 6 60 4 66.7 65.5
Colistin 2 66.7 5 50 7 70 0 0 43.3
Rocephin 3 100 9 90 9 90 5 89.6 89.7
Cefuroxime 1 33.3 1 1 0 0 1 16.7 10.3
Ceftazidine 2 33.3 4 40 5 50 1 16.7 41.4
Coltrimoxazole 0 0 5 50 3 30 2 33.3 34.5

Table 5: Antibiotic susceptibility to gram negative bacterial isolates.

Discussion

Conjunctivitis is one of the various infectious diseases that are easily contacted by newborns and elderly individual under poor hygienic conditions [7]. This is why the diseases are sometimes seen as an indication of possible outbreak of an infectious diseases and an increase should therefore be of serious concern [8]. This study revealed that 90 (75%) of 120 patients were positive and the remainder do not show any growth. The result showed that male patients had the most prevalent of bacterial conjunctivitis (76.4%), followed by the female patients with (73.8%). Although, there was no gender predilection, conjunctivitis occurs in all ages [9]. Therefore this result showed an occurrence rate in relation to the age group of patients. 11-20 yrs (25.6%) had the highest prevalence of bacterial conjunctivitis, followed by age <12 months (22.2%), while the prevalence for other ages were 1-10 yrs (17.7%), 21-30 yrs (16.7%), 31-40 yrs and 41-50 yrs (5.6%) each 51-60 yrs (4.4%) and 61-70 yrs (2.2%). According to Jellife [10], the predisposing factors and natural tendency of an individual age group to develop this disease depend on the level of hygiene and immune status of the individual. The most common isolated microorganism was Staphylococcus aureus constituting (53.3%) of the total bacterial isolated. This was in line with the work of Martins [11], that the predominantly associated bacterium in conjunctivitis is Staphylococcus aureus due to its presence in large number on the skin surface around the eye. The next organism that has high occurrence was Staphylococcus epidermidis in 13 (14.4%) patients, which could possibly have been skin flora, since the organism is generally seen as an opportunistic pathogen and normal flora of the conjunctiva and skin [12]. Both pseudomonas and klebsiella species formed the third most frequent organisms encountered with 10 (11.1%). Klebsiella has also been documented by various investigators [13,14]. pseudomonas pyocyanea has been reported to cause conjunctivitis following the use of contaminated eye drops [15]. Proteus species has 6 (6.7%) Obi et al, also reported the occurrence of Proteus species in conjunctivitis in their study [13]. Escherichia coli were reported as the most frequent organism among the coliforms [16]. The occurrence 3 (3.3%) may indicate the possibility of feacal materials as a source of infection otherwise members of the Enterobactericeae are less commonly found with bacterial conjunctivitis.

Conclusion

The absence of growth of bacterial in considerable number of patient eyes and subsequent negative culture could be attributed to the blinking action of the lids, flushing mechanism of the tear fluid and the inhibitory effect of lysozyme, possible misdiagnosis of other forms of conjunctivitis for the bacterial type. The possibility of self-medication by patients before clinical consultation could be another possible reason. All the isolated bacteria were subjected to antibiogram were Rocephine was found to be the best effective antibiotics for (91.8%) of the treatment of gram-positive isolates. This was followed by Cefuroxime (72.1%), Cloxacillin (67.2%), Gentamycin (57.4%), Erythromycin (55.7%), Streptomycin (52.5%), Chloramphenicol (41%), Ceftazidine (36.1%), Tetracycline (29.5%), Ampicillin (9.8%) and Penicillin (1.6%). Out of 29 gram negative isolates, Rocephine was found to be the best effective antibiotic (89.7%) for the treatment of gram-negative isolates. This was followed by Gentamycin (65.5%), Tetracycline and Streptomycin has (52.7%) efficacy each, Colistin (48.3%), Ceftazidine (41.4%), Coltrimoxazole (34.5%), Cefuroxime (10.3%) and Ampicillin which was found to be resistant.

Recommendation

Conjunctivitis is an infectious disease that affects young and old, male and female. It is therefore necessary that the following recommendations for the prevention and management of conjunctivitis could be found useful.

I. Health education and personal hygiene such as access to clean water for washing

II. The use of appropriate antibiotics

III. Provision of facilities for the early diagnosis of the aetiological agent of conjunctivitis.

References

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  2. Lim KH. Epidemic conjunctivitis: Discovery of a new aetiologic agent. Singapore Med J. 1973; 2: 82-85.
  3. Wright KW, Spiegel PH. Paedritics ophthalmology and Strabismus. Springer.1995;2: 285-286.
  4. Higgins C. An introduction to the examination of specimens. Nurs Times. 1994; 90 47:29-32.
  5. MacFaddin JF. Biochemical Tests for Identification of Medical Bacteria (3) Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia. 2000.
  6. Jan Hudzicki. Kirby Bauer Disk Diffusion Susceptibility Test Protocol. Ameri Society Microbiol.  https://www.asm.org/getattachment/2594ce26-bd44-47f6-8287-0657aa9185ad/Kirby-Bauer-Disk-Diffusion-Susceptibility-Test-Protocol-pdf.pdf
  7. Karen KY, Barry AW. Bacterial Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye). https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1191730-overview. 2019
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  9. Allenssandrini EA. The case of red eye. Paediatric Annals of Medicine. 2000;29 2.
  10. Jellife DB. Disease of Children in the subtropics and tropics (2nd Edn) Edward Arnold Publications. 1970;585-602.
  11. Martins JE, Armstrong JH, Smith PB. New system cultivation of Neisseria gonorrheal, Appli Microbiol, Washington.1996; 27: 802-805.
  12. Prescott LM, Harley JF, Klein DA. Microbiology (3rd Edn), Published by Wm.C. Brown. 1996; 777-780.
  13. Obi JO Wemanbu NC. Opthamia Neonaturum in Nigerian community, Nigeria Medical J. 1997;17 2: 418-421.
  14. Duke-Elder WS. Disease of the outer eye system of opthalmonology by Henry Kimpton. 1965; 8 5: 168.
  15. Duguild JP, Robert Cruickshank, Marmon BP, Swain RHA. Medical Microbiology: A Guide to the Laboratory Diagnosis and Control of Infection. 1989;12 1:515.
  16. Perkin RE, Kundsin RB, Pratt MV, Abrahamson I, Leibouwl TZ. Bacteriology of normal and infected conjunctiva. J Clin Microbiol. 1975;1 2:147-149.

Author Info

Akinseye Janet Fumilayo1, Obebe Olusola2, AO Komolafe2, Agunlejika Richard Adedokun2 and Ayuba Sunday Buru3*
 
1Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
2Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
3Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Genomic Research Laboratory, College of Medicine, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria
 

Citation: Fumilayo AJ, Olusola O, Komolafe AO, Adedokun AR, Buru AS (2020) Incidence of Bacterial Conjunctivitis among Patients attending Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Appli Microbiol Open Access 6:166. Doi: 10.35248/2471-9315.20.6.166

Received: 27-Dec-2019 Accepted: 13-Jan-2020 Published: 20-Jan-2020 , DOI: 10.35248/2471-9315.20.6.166

Copyright: © 2020 Fumilayo AJ, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited

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