METHODS: Conjunctival swabs were taken from the cadavers (motor vehicle accident deaths and patients who died in the hospital), within 6h after death, and sent for culture and sensitivity test. Conjunctival swabs, taken from the healthy conjunctiva of patients admitted for cataract surgery, were sent for culture and sensitivity as controls (eyes in those of living status). The bacterial isolates were tested against the commonly used antibiotics (chloramphenicol, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin) in ophthalmology practice.

    RESULTS: Bacteria were isolated in 41 out of 100 conjunctival swabs (41%), taken from 50 cadavers (study group). Coagulase negative staphylococcus was the most common bacteria isolated (15%), followed by pseudomonas aeruginosa (5%). Gentamicin was effective against majority of the bacterial isolates (82%). Bacteria were isolated from 7 out of 100 conjunctival swabs taken as control group (eyes in living state). Coagulase negative staphylococcus was the most common organism (5%) isolated in control group; the others were staphylococcus aureus (1%) and beta hemolyticus streptococci (1%).

    CONCLUSION: Bacteria were isolated from 41% of the cadaver eyes. High percentage sensitivity of the bacterial isolates to gentamicin (82%) supports the practice of thorough irrigation of the eyes with gentamicin solution before starting the procedure of enucleation followed by immersion of the enucleated eyeballs in gentamycin solution, to prevent the bacterial contamination.