A study of microbial flora of conjunctival sac in newborns.

During the period from July to August 1987, the microbial flora in conjunctival sac of 93 newborns (186 eyes: normal vaginal delivery) and 19 newborns (38 eyes: cesarean section delivery) in nursery of Ewha Womans University Hospital were investigated for isolation and identification of bacteria on delivery day and on two days after birth. The results of the investigation are as follows: 1. Of 186 eyes (normal vaginal delivery), bacterial growth of one species was shown in 40 eyes (21.5%) on delivery day and in 64 eyes (34.4%) on two days after birth. Bacterial growth of two species shown in 10 eyes (5.4%) on delivery day and in 10 eyes (5.4%) on two days after birth. 2. Of 38 eyes (cesarean section delivery), bacterial growth of one species was shown in 2 eyes (5.3%) on delivery day and in 20 eyes (52.6%) on two days after birth. Bacterial growth of two species was shown 2 eyes (5.3%) on two days after birth. 3. Several kinds of bacterial species were isolated in normal vaginal delivery and cesarean section delivery. Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus were isolated.