Polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) in the treatment of experimental Fusarium keratomycosis.
OBJECTIVE
We wanted to determine whether topical polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) 0.02% was effective in the treatment of experimental Fusarium keratomycosis in rabbits.


METHODS
Fusarium solani keratomycosis was induced in the eyes of 12 New Zealand white rabbits. The rabbits were treated with PHMB 0.02% in one eye and placebo in the other eye for 6 days. The rabbits were evaluated in a masked fashion using a standardized system for clinical progression of the disease. Then the corneas were trephined and growth of F. solani in colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/ml) determined.


RESULTS
Clinical evaluation demonstrated no significant mean difference (p > 0.10) in clinical scores between treated and control eyes on day 6 (0.583 +/- 2.503). There was a significant mean CFU difference (p = 0.06) between treated eyes and control eyes (182.5 +/- 314.44). Seven of 12 eyes (58%) in the PHMB group exhibited no growth, whereas two of 12 (17%) eyes reported no growth in the control group. One of 12 eyes (8%) reported > 100 CFU in the PHMB group, whereas seven of 12 eyes (58%) reported > 100 CFU in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
PHMB 0.02% was effective in significantly reducing the fungal growth in our rabbit model of Fusarium keratomycosis. The future role of PHMB in the treatment of Fusarium keratitis needs to be further evaluated.
Fiscella
R G
RG
Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Illinois at Chicago 60612, USA.
Moshifar
M
M
Messick
C R
CR
Pendland
S L
SL
Chandler
J W
JW
Viana
M
M
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D001645:Biguanides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003315:Cornea / Q000382:microbiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015821:Eye Infections, Fungal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005670:Fusarium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D007634:Keratitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011817:Rabbits; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001645:Biguanides; D004202:Disinfectants; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; C031233:polihexanide