Cultivation and identification of isolates

The broth was gently mixed to homogeneity; 100 μl of inoculum was then dispensed and streaked onto blood agar, chocolate agar, MacConkey agar, Mannitol salt agar and modified Thayer-Martin agar (MTM) (Oxoid, Hampshire, UK). To maintain the presence of CO₂, chocolate agar and MTM agar plates were placed in candle jars. All media were incubated overnight at 37 °C. After 24 h of incubation, each plate was inspected for any growth and negative plates were incubated for an additional 24 h. For eyelid and conjunctival swabs, culture positivity was determined based on a threshold criteria. Corneal specimens were considered as positive if there was a confluent growth at the site of inoculation [39]. All bacterial isolates were identified using standard clinical laboratory methods [40, 41].