Prevalence and Antibiotics Susceptibility Patterns of Bacterial Isolates Causing Adult Conjunctivitis among Patients Attending Tertiary Hospitals in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

Bacterial conjunctivitis is a widespread ocular infection affecting diverse age groups, occupations, and educational backgrounds, which, if left inadequately treated, can result in significant economic burdens, vision impairment, and blindness.This study aimed to investigate the incidence of bacterial conjunctivitis, its socio-demographic correlates, and the antibiotic sensitivity profiles of the causative pathogens among adult patients attending Federal Medical Centre, Onitsha, and Guinness Eye Hospital, Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria. The research was conducted among consenting adult patients presenting with symptoms of conjunctivitis, characterized by pink or red eyes and sticky or adherent eyelids, between November 2024 and April 2025 A total of 300 eye swab specimens from patients who met the inclusion criteria were collected and cultured. Subsequent identification of bacterial isolates from pure culture was done based on cultural characteristics, Gram stain and biochemical tests. Sensitivity tests of pure bacterial isolates were done using the disc diffusion method.  Ninety four (94) 94/ 300 eye swabs had bacterial growth, giving an incidence of 31.3%. There is no significant difference P=0.120, between male patients 17.3% and female patients 14%. Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent isolate (56.4%), while the least was E. coli (5.3%). Susceptibility test result showed that gentamicin (80.8%), ciprofloxacin (79.2%) were active against the isolates. Bacteria conjunctivitis if not properly treated can lead to serious complication such as blindness or permanent eye damage.