Quantitative adherence of bacteria to human corneal epithelial cells.

An in vitro assay was used to quantitatively determine the ability of a variety of bacteria to adhere to human corneal epithelial cells. Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were found to adhere to corneal epithelium significantly better than other species that were tested. However, there was considerable variability in the adherence of individual strains of these bacterial species. The results of this study support the hypothesis that the frequency with which certain species of bacteria cause bacterial corneal ulceration may be related to the ability of those organisms to adhere to corneal epithelium. In addition, differences in pathogenicity between strains of a given species may be related to the variability of adherence within a species.