Isolation and Identification of Pathogenic Bacteria that Cause External Ocular Infections in Sabha City Libya

The aim of this study was the isolation and identification of the specific bacterial pathogens causing ocular infections in patients attending Sabha Eye Clinics. A total of 120 samples were collected using a sterile cotton swab from patients with conjunctivitis (aged between 1 to more than 60 years) attending different Eye Clinics in Sabha city (under the supervision of ophthalmologists). All samples were examined by Gram stain, culture on blood agar, mannitol salt agar and MacConkey agar. Different biochemical tests were studied. Results revealed that the species of bacteria isolated were: Staphylococcus aureus (40%), Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (20%), Klebsiella pneumoniae species (10%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22%) and E. coli 8%.