Study finds increased prevalence of conjunctival bacteria among diabetics

This large retrospective study assessed the conjunctival bacterial pattern in patients with diabetes undergoing cataract surgery and compared it to non-diabetics also undergoing cataract surgery. Diabetics had a significantly higher prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococci, certain Streptococci and Klebsiella sp. than nondiabetics. The authors conclude that this pattern is a predominant cause of many diabetic infections. They also found that an abnormally high blood creatinine level (greater than 105.2 µmol/l) is an indicator of increased conjunctival colonization in diabetics and non-diabetics.