Bacteriological profile of ophthalmic infections in an Israeli hospital

Aim. To find the optimal antibiotic treatment for ophthalmic infections in an Israeli hospital. Methods. In a retrospective study from our laboratory, which serves as both a primary and secondary referral center, we analyzed the bacteriological p rofile and the antibiotic sensitivity of ophthalmic infections using the co mputerized laboratory reports of 331 consecutive ophthlamic bacteriological cultures from patients with various ophthalmic infections. Results. Microbiological growth was obtained in 113 samples (34.1%). The mo st commonly isolated organism was coagulase-negative staphylococcus (19.5%) , followed by coagulase-positive staphylococcus (16.8%), Enterobacteriaceae (14.2%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13.3%), and streptococcal species (8.9%). Pseudomonas species were the most common isolates from the lacrimal pathwa ys (20.0%). Streptococci were the most common isolates cultured from the co njunctiva (27.3%). Coagulase-positive staphylococcus was the most common is olate from corneal ulcers (33.3%), and coagulase-negative staphylococcus fr om the vitreous (30.8%). The overall antibiotic sensitivity of common ophth almic pathogens was similar to that reported from other parts of the world. Conclusions. Although essentially similar to previous series, this report f rom the Middle East differs as follows. Firstly, Pseudomonas species were t he most common isolates from the lacrimal pathways. Secondly, the overall r ate of streptococcal isolates was lower than in previous reports. Thirdly, streptococcal species were rarely isolated from corneal samples. Although o ther studies from the region have described the causative organisms of ocul ar infections in specific ocular sites, this is the first study from the Mi ddle East to summarize the full bacteriological profile of ocular infection s in one medical center.