Conjunctival and nasal microflora in patients on topical cyclosporine for dry eye

Abstract

Introduction: Dry eye is a common ocular condition causing discomfort and visual disturbances. Anti-inflammatory agents like Cyclosporine A (CsA) are often used in its treatment. However, the impact of CsA on ocular flora remains understudied. This research aimed to evaluate changes in conjunctival and nasal microflora in patients receiving topical cyclosporine for dry eye. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, conjunctival and nasal samples were collected from two groups of dry eye patients. Group 1 consisted of 38 patients using CsA eye drops, while Group 2 included 34 patients using preservative-free artificial tear drops. Bacterial cultures were grown from the samples, and the identified organisms underwent antibiotic susceptibility testing. Additionally, alpha diversity metrics were employed to assess the diversity of bacterial species in the samples. Results: Bacterial growth was observed in 75% of conjunctival samples and 97.22% of nasal samples. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the predominant organism in both groups. Alpha diversity analysis showed no significant differences in Shannon diversity and OTU richness between the groups for most bacterial species. Antibiotic susceptibility tests revealed no substantial variations in resistance patterns between the groups. Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the impact of CsA eye drops on conjunctival and nasal flora in dry eye patients. The findings suggest that CsA does not significantly influence the composition, diversity, or antibiotic resistance patterns of ocular flora. Long-term topical cyclosporine treatment for dry eye does not significantly impact conjunctival microflora or lead to antibiotic resistance. These results have important implications for the safe use of CsA in patients undergoing ocular treatments, particularly those at risk of intraocular infections.