Detection of Bacteria Causing Conjunctivitis in Patients Using Lenses for Vision Correction

The Research included the isolation and identification of bacteria causing conjunctivitis in patients subjected to vision correction operations who attended the ophthalmological clinc in Al-Zahrawi teaching hospital in Mosul city. The study also included testing the ability of one of the isolated bacteria to adhere on the intraocular lens that is used to correct visson (PMMA) and forming biofilms. 20 swab samples were collected from patients of both sexes (12 males and females). The results revealed that 3 samples were negative (15%) and 17 samples were positive (85%), Staphylococcus epidermids was the predominant type 11 isolates (55%) while Staphylococcus aureus was isolated with 30% (6 isolates). When the ability of S. aureus to adhere and form biofilm on lenses by using ELIZA technique, the results were positive, the absorbance values were 0.140, 0.216 and 0.399 at incubation periods 24, 48 and 72 hours respectively. As well as the number of colonies that were formed on lens surfaces was measured after different incubation periods, the results showed that the number of colonies were 6.7, 7.6, 8.1 X106 colony/cm3 in the incubation periods 24, 48 and 72 hours respectively.