title: Ocular flora of patients with AIDS compared with those of HIV-negative patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether there are quantitative or qualitative differences in the ocular flora of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) compared with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients with AIDS and 42 HIV-negative controls were sex and age matched. All subjects had a detailed anterior segment examination, including Schirmer's test, rose bengal staining, and quantitative cultures of the conjunctiva and lids. Statistical evaluation of the relation between AIDS, keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), and ocular flora was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences were observed in the types or numbers of organisms isolated from the conjunctiva or lids of patients with AIDS and HIV-negative subjects. Ocular flora was not influenced by use of systemic antibiotics, level of immunosuppression as measured by CD4 lymphocyte counts, KCS, or other ocular-surface disease. One AIDS patient was colonized by large numbers of Haemophilus influenzae OU with minimal clinical signs of inflammation or infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There do not appear to be any differences in the ocular flora of HIV-negative patients and patients with AIDS. Presence of KCS and level of immunosuppression do not appear to affect the ocular flora in patients with AIDS.
authors.affiliation: King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Gritz
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Sedó
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Cevallos
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Margolis
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Whitcher
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005143:Eyelids / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007638:Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents