Bitew AdaneAklilu Addis2018-06-242023-11-062018-06-242023-11-062016-10http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/3015Background:-Ocular infection is a major public health problem in developing countries.Bacteria and fungi associated with external ocular infection are responsible for increasedincidence of morbidity and blindness worldwide. Objective:-The aim of this study was to determine the profile of bacterial and fungal pathogensfrom external ocular infection at St. Paul HospitalMillennium Medical College, Addis Ababa,Ethiopia. Methodology:-A cross sectional study conducted using convenient sampling technique. A totalof 215 patients recruited from April to August, 2016. Conjunctival and eyelid margin swabs andcorneal scraping were collected. Demographic data were collected using structured questionnaire. All Specimens were processed for microbiological analysis as per standardprocedures and antibiotic susceptibility test was done using disc diffusion technique. The datawas analyzed by using SPSS version 20 and appropriate statistical tools were used. Result: - A total of 215 patients were enrolled in this study. Of which 133(61.4 %) were culturepositive. Of this 118(54.9%) and 24(11.2%) were bacterial and fungal pathogens respectively.There were 9 (6.8%) bacterial and fungal co-infections. Majority were males 109 (50.7%). Themean age of the study participants was 42.34 (Sd. +20.55) and majority of participants age werewithin the age range of 25-44 years 72(33.5%). Majority had conjunctivitis 87(40.5%) followedby blepharitis 48(22.3%). The predominant bacterial pathogen isolated were gram positives88(74.6%). Of this S. aureus 32(27.1%) was the commonest isolate and K. pneumoniae 9(7.6%)was the predominant from gram negative bacterial pathogens. Aspergillus species 14(58.3%)were the most predominant fungal isolates. Gram positive cocci and gram negative rods werehighly resistant for Penicillin 66/88(75%) and Ampicilin 20/27(81.5%) respectively. 71.2% ofMDR bacteria were isolated. There was statistically significant association between prevalenceof bacterial isolates and age variation (P=0.023) and trauma with fungi prevalence (P=0.002). Conclusion:-The prevalence of bacterial and fungal pathogens was higher among external ocularinfection. The drug resistance among ocular bacterial infection was also higher. Keywords: - External ocular infections, conjunctivitis, blepharitis, keratitis, dacryocystitis,susceptibilityenExternal ocular infections; Conjunctivitis, blepharitis; Keratitis; Dacryocystitis; SusceptibilityThesis