I. Can et al., Changes in the conjunctival flora after conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy (CDCR): a preliminary report, EUR J OPTHA, 8(3), 1998, pp. 142-147
Purpose. To describe changes in the conjunctival flora due to retrograde fl
ow after conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy (CDCR) with Jones' tube implantat
ion.
Methods. In 20 patients, one year after unilateral CDCR with Jones' tube im
plantation and a functionally successful outcome, conjunctival and nasal mu
cosal specimens were taken from the operated side for bacteriological analy
ses and non-operated eye conjunctival specimens were simultaneously taken a
s the control group. The samples were cultivated in conventional media and
also in hypertonic media in order to isolate L-forms of bacteria and to inc
rease the isolation rate and sensitivity
Results. Bacterial growth was defected in 16 operated (80%) and II non-oper
ated eyes (55%) and 26 bacteria were isolated from nasal mucosa in 20 cases
(isolation rate 100%). Bacteria isolated from the non-operated specimens w
ere S. epidermidis (63.6%, seven cases), S. aureus (27.2%, three cases) and
Corynebacterium sp. (9.0%, one case). Conjunctival cultures of the operate
d eyes yielded S. epidermidis in three (18.7%), S. aureus in six (37.5%), C
orynebacterium sp. in two (12.5%) and other bacteria in five (31.3%). Nasal
mucosal cultures contained S. epiderm id is in nine cases (45%), S. aureus
in eight (40%), Corynebacterium sp. in two (10%) and miscellaneous bacteri
a in seven cases (35%).
Conclusions. After CDCR the conjunctival flora of the eye undergoes differe
ntiation and becomes similar to the nasal flora.