Background: The most common form of ocular infection is conjunctivitis. The aim of this study is to determine the most prevalent causes of bacterial conjunctivitis and antibiotic sensitivity in Mostafa Khomeini Hospital.

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, we evaluated symptom, pathogen and effective antibiotic sensitivity in bacterial conjunctivitis. In the present research, 150 cases of conjunctivitis referred to Shaheed Mostafa Khomeini Hospital were studied from Jun. 1999 to Mar. 2000. Our study was carried out based on questionnaires, examinations, cultures and antibiograms.

Results: The prevalence of conjunctivitis and bacterial conjunctivitis were 3.2% and 2.1%, respectively. The age limit of the patients under study was 3 days to 65 years. Positive culture in cases was 66.6%. The frequency of conjunctivitis was equal in both males and females. The most frequent age of conjunctivitis was in 0-1 group. The most frequent symptoms in patients were hyperemia & tearing. The frequency of isolated pathogens were: staph. Aurous (38%) penumococcus (11%) pseudomonas (10%) haemophilus (8%) enterobacter, klebsiella, ecoli, staph. Epidermis (each 7%) entrococcus (4%) and moraxella catarrhal (1%). The percentages of antibacterial sensitivity of isolated pathogens were: chloramphenicol 80% gentamycin 76% erythromycin 71% and tetracycline 65%.

Conclusion: This study showed that the most common causes of bacterial conjunctivitis are pneumococcus, haemophilus influenza and staphylococcus. Empiric therapy with new local antibiotics seems to be appropriate. Culture is not necessary except in severe, recurrent or epidemic form of conjunctivitis.