PURPOSE: To evaluate conjunctival microbiota in eyes with tear film dysfunction and its modification after punctal occlusion with silicone plug. METHODS: Non comparative interventional case series study to evaluate 68 eyes of 41 patients with tear film dysfunction, from 2002 to 2007, followed in Federal University of Sao Paulo. Samples for culture were all obtained from conjunctival swabs and inoculated in Brain heart infusion broth (BHI broth). Twenty two patients that undergone punctal plug occlusion repeated culture procedure one month after plug insertion. RESULTS: 47 of the 68 eyes evaluated had positive culture in their samples. Nine different types of bacteria were identified: Coagulase negative Staphylococcus in 66,66%, Staphylococcus aureus, in 13,72%, Corynebacterium sp, in 5,86%, Enterobacter aerogenes, in 3,92%, Streptococcus hemolítico do grupo viridans, in 1,96%, Serratia sp, in 1,96%, Alcaligenes xylosoxidans spp, in 1,96%, Corynebacterium xerosis, in 1,96%, and Proteus mirabilis in 1,96%. Coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CNS) was the most frequently isolated microorganism before and after punctal occlusion. CNS sensibility to Oxacilin before plug insertion was 87,50%, and after, 73,68%. CONCLUSION: Microbiota found in eyes with tear film dysfunction seems to be similar to that found in normal eyes. CNS resistance to oxacilin was slightly higher after silicone plug insertion.
Dry eye syndromes/microbiology; Conjunctiva/microbiology; Staphylococcal infections/microbiology; Silicone elastomers
