Topical pefloxacin in bacterial keratitis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of topical pefloxacin 0.3% drops as the sole antibiotic used to treat culture positive bacterial corneal ulcers.


METHODS
Forty two consecutive Gram's smear-positive cases of bacterial corneal ulcers were enrolled for this prospective open labelled clinical trial. All patients underwent a complete clinical and microbiological work up and were put on topical 0.3% pefloxacin drops with supportive cycloplegic, vitamins and antiglaucoma therapy. Of 42 cases, 4 cases of mycotic keratitis and 6 culture negative cases were excluded from the study.


RESULTS
Positive microbiologic cultures were obtained in 84.2% (32 of 38) cases. Staphylococcus aureus (14/32; 43.7%) and coagulase negative Staphylococci (12/32; 37.5%) were the two most common organisms isolated. Resolution of the corneal ulcer was achieved in 31 out of 32 cases (96.9%) with a mean duration of 9.3+/-5.3 days (range 3-21 days). Best corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or better was achieved in 65.6% of cases at 4 weeks post resolution. Corneal deposits were observed in one case which disappeared 8 days following discontinuation of therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Topical pefloxacin is effective as a single antibiotic agent for the treatment of bacterial keratitis.
Vajpayee
R B
RB
Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Sharma
N
N
Verma
B
B
Vajpayee
M
M
Gupta
S K
SK
Satpathy
G
G
Saxena
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003315:Cornea / Q000382:microbiology; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D015366:Pefloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D015366:Pefloxacin