The Bacterial Flora of the Normal Conjunctiva with Comparative Nasal Culture Study

Using swabs cultured on blood-agar plates, fifty-seven percent of normal conjunctival sacs were found to carry one or more organisms on one or both sides, with no clinical evidence of inflammatory reaction of the conjunctiva, while forty-three percent were absolutely sterile. The organisms were of low virulence but of the suppurating variety, the hemolytic staphylococcus characteristic of the nasal flora predominating. Comparison with the nasal flora of the same series indicated that the source of infection was from the nose by way of the lacrimonasal duct. From the pathological laboratories of the Diagnostic Center, United States Veterans' Bureau.