Polymorphonuclear leukocytes and bacterial growth of the normal and mildly inflamed conjunctiva.

We examined 304 conjunctiva in 152 subjects by clinical, cytologic, and bacteriologic methods. Bacteriologic samples were evaluated after a 48-hour incubation. Bacterial growth was found in 8 (20.5%) of 39 patients with clinically normal conjunctiva and no polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), and in 8 (61.5%) of 13 subjects with clinically normal conjunctiva and evidence of PMNs. Bacterial growth also was observed in 4 (40.0%) of 10 patients with clinically mild conjunctivitis and no PMNs, in 10 (24.4%) of 41 patients with clinically mild conjunctivitis and a mixture of inflammatory cells or predominantly lymphocytes, and in 37 (75.5%) of 49 patients with clinically mild conjunctivitis and evidence of PMNs. The presence of PMNs was well correlated with the existence of rapid-growing bacteria.