| Summary: | M.Tech. Biomedical Sciences === Acute conjunctivitis is a common disease in both developing and industrialised countries. Since there is limited information on the aetiology of this disease in South Africa a study was undertaken at 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria to determine the pathogenic agents isolated from both adult and paediatric cases. Acute bacterial conjunctivitis occurred most frequently in the winter months.
The bacterial strains were identified using routine microbiological methods. The biotypes of Haemophilus influenzae were determined according to a scheme proposed by Kilian. A total of 271 specimens were tested. Microorganisms were isolated from 171 patients.
H. influenzae was the predominant bacterial species from children, followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae. The most commonly isolated biotype/biovar of H. influenzae was biovar II (67,6%).
Only 23,5% of the strains were biovar III, previously designated H. aegyptius. Children under two years of age were found to be the most susceptible to eye infections. This correlates with data from other countries. In adults the prevalent aetiologic agent of conjunctivitis was Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Gram-negative organisms. Acute bacterial conjunctivitis is age-dependent.
The ability of H. influenzae biovars to transform was determined and 94% of the cases were found to be highly transformable. Differentation between H. influenzae biovar III and H. influenzae biovar aegyptius using xylose proved unreliable. In the absence of a reliable differentiation it is recommended that H. influenzae biovar aegyptius should be classified as H. influenzae biovar III.
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