[Conjunctival microbiota in patients with ocular allergy].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate de presence of conjunctival aerobic microbiota in patients with ocular allergy as compared to a control group.


METHODS
One hundred and thirty-three patients were evaluated from April to June 2001 and divided into 2 groups. Sixty-three patients with allergic conjunctivitis (without medication) were in group A and 70 patients from the general outpatient clinic were in group B (control group). Samples from the conjunctival sac of the right eye were collected and cultured in solid media (blood, chocolate and Sabouraud agar).


RESULTS
In group A, 30 cultures (47.7%) were positive and 6 (8.6%) in group B. Seven bacteria were isolated from group A and 4 from group B. Statistical analysis revealed significant association between positive cultures and allergic conjunctivitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Bacterial microbiota was more frequently found in patients with ocular allergy.
Libório
Alexandre Mattoso
AM
Departamento de Oftalmologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP.
Nishiwaki-Dantas
Maria Cristina
MC
Mimica
Lycia Mara Jenne
LM
Dantas
Paulo Elias Correa
PE
Lima
Ana Luísa Höfling de
AL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000382:microbiology*; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000382:microbiology*; D003234:Conjunctivitis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification