Characterization and Antibiotics Susceptibility of Bacterial Isolates from Conjunctivitis Patients Attending Ophthalmology Clinic, Federal Teaching Hospital Ido-Ekiti (FETHI)

This study aimed to isolate and characterize bacteria associated with conjunctivitis in patients at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti (FETHI). Conjunctiva swabs were collected from 12 diagnosed patients, and the bacterial isolates were tentatively characterized based on cultural, morphological, and biochemical properties. An antibiotic susceptibility test was conducted using the disk diffusion method. A Questionnaire that was administered to patients revealed symptoms such as redness (41.7%), eye discharge (16.7%), and photophobia (8.3%), with symptoms lasting 1-2 weeks. Some respondents claimed that the consumption of iru, both raw and cooked, was effective in managing conjunctivitis for over 16 years. Identified bacteria included Staphylococcus aureus (58.3%), Bacillus cereus (50%), Klebsiella aerogenes (33.3%), Escherichia coli (16.7%), and Proteus vulgaris (16.7%). The antibiotics susceptibility test re¬vealed a high resistance rate to antibiotics among the Gram-positive isolates, especially to cloxacillin, erythromycin, gentamycin, and ceftriaxone at 100%, 28.6%, 57.1%, respectively for S. aureus, while B. cereus showed resistance to gentamicin and erythromycin at 66.7% and 16.7%, respectively. However, Gram-negative isolates P. vulgaris showed 100% resistance to nitrofurantoin, cefixime, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and erythromycin, at 50%. Also, E. coli showed 100% resistance to nitro¬furantoin and cefixime; and 50% resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. K. aerogenes also showed 100% resistance to nitrofurantoin and cefixime. The study observed a trend of high antibiotic resistance by both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. This research provides valuable insights into bacterial profiles associated with conjunctivitis in the studied population and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns.