Normal Conjunctival Flora in Healthy Population of Quetta Balochistan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Nimra Akhtar; Asem  Hammed; Faisal  Hanif; Mahwish Akhtar  Qureshi; Waseem  Yousaf

doi:10.37185/LnS.1.1.712

Authors

Nimra Akhtar Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Quetta, Pakistan
Asem Hammed Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Quetta, Pakistan
Faisal Hanif Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Quetta, Pakistan
Mahwish Akhtar Qureshi Fazaia Medical College, Islamabad, Pakistan
Waseem Yousaf Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Quetta, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.712

Keywords:

Conjunctival Sac, Culture Media, Escherichia, Staphylococcus

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the normal conjunctival flora in a healthy population of Quetta, Balochistan.
Study Design: A cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology and Ophthalmology at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Quetta, Pakistan, from July 2023 to December 2023.
Methods: This study was performed on 379 healthy patients, divided into three age groups ranging from 20 to 70 years. Sterile Stuart's swab samples were collected from the conjunctiva of individuals, avoiding contact with the eyelashes or lid margins. The swabs were gently applied to the conjunctiva of both eyes and then placed in Stuart's transparent media for transport to the microbiological laboratory.
Results: Out of 379 individuals, 239 were male (with a mean age of 41.92 ± 16.91 years), and 140 were female (with a mean age of 38.21 ± 11.61 years). Growths were obtained from 231 (60.9%) eyes, and the remaining 148 (39.1%) did not yield any organism. Predominantly isolated microorganisms were Staphylococcus epidermidis in 120 (51.95%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus in 42 (18.18%), Haemophilus influenzae in 28 (12.12%), Diphtheroids in 23 (9.96%), Streptococcus viridans in 10 (4.33%), Staphylococcus citreus in 6 (2.60%), and Escherichia coli in 2 (0.87%) of culture-positive specimens. The P-value (0.962) was not statistically significant, indicating no association between age groups and swab test results for conjunctival flora in the population
under study.
Conclusion: Normal conjunctival flora in the present study exhibited a wide range of compositions. While S. epidermidis is the most common microbe, E. coli is considerably less prevalent. Identification of the initial pathogen is crucial in determining the appropriate treatment for ocular infections.

How to cite this: Akhtar N, Hammed A, Hanif F, Yousaf W, Akhtar M. Normal Conjunctival Flora in Healthy Population of Quetta Balochistan: A Cross-Sectional Study. Life and Science. 2026; 7(3): 347-351. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.712