Corneal ulcers in house staff: are risk factors identifiable?

Thirty-six incoming house officers and 20 incoming third-year medical students had conjunctival cultures taken before and after hospital exposure. The groups were divided evenly between contact-lens and noncontact-lens wearers. A decrease in incidence of positive conjunctival cultures was observed after hospital exposure. Within this group, a lower incidence of positive cultures was observed in contact-lens wearers compared with noncontact-lens wearers. The clinical records of corneal ulcer patients during a three-year period from October 1982 through October 1985 were also reviewed. Significant associated risk factors were identified, the largest of which was contact-lens wear.