Conjunctival flora in vernal keratoconjunctivitis

Abstract

Aim: To identify the association of normal bacterial flora with conjunctival flora in vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC). Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional, comparative, hospital-based study over a period of 2 years involving 264 eyes of 132 clinically diagnosed VKC as cases and 264 eyes of 132 patients who came for refractive correction and regular eye check-up as controls. Patients were enquired about medical, treatment, personal, and family history. Routine ophthalmological tests were conducted. Conjunctival specimens were collected, cultured, and identified following standard methods. The association between the presence of bacteria in normal flora and VKC was analyzed using Chi-square statistic. Results: Comparable bacterial growth was observed in VKC (77.8%) as well as control group (74.3%) (P = 0.44). Analysis of individual bacteria revealed that Staphylococcus aureus was detected more frequently in VKC, 25% versus 11% in control, P < 0.0001, while Staphylococcus epidermidis was found much more commonly in the control eyes, 39.4% versus 28% in VKC, P = 0.0056. Conclusion: A possible aggravating role of S. aureus colonization in the occurrence of VKC and S. epidermidis against the occurrence of VKC was concluded.