Comparison of antibiotic drops placed in the conjunctival cul-de-sac to antibiotic ointment applied to the lid margin in reduction of bacterial colonization on the lid margin.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of antibiotic drops placed in the conjunctival cul-de-sac to antibiotic ointment applied to the lid margin in reduction of bacterial colonization on the lid margin.


METHODS
A randomized, prospective, single-masked study was conducted on 19 patients with culture-proven colonization of bacteria on the lid margins. Ophthalmic eligibility criteria included the presence of > or =50 colony-forming units/mL (CFU/mL) of bacteria on both right and left lids. Each patient received one drop of ofloxacin in one eye every night for one week, followed by one drop once a week for one month. In the same manner, each patient received bacitracin ointment (erythromycin or gentamicin ointment if lid margin bacteria were resistant to bacitracin) to the lid margin of the fellow eye. Quantitative lid cultures were taken at initial visit, one week, one month, and two months. Fifteen volunteers (30 lids) served as controls. Lid cultures were taken at initial visit, one week, and one month.


RESULTS
Both antibiotic drop and ointment reduced average bacterial CFU/mL at one week and one month. Average bacterial CFU/mL reestablished to baseline values at two months. There was no statistically significant difference between antibiotic drop and ointment in reducing bacterial colonization on the lid margin.


CONCLUSIONS
Antibiotic drops placed in the conjunctival cul-de-sac appear to be as effective as ointment applied to the lid margins in reducing bacterial colonization in patients with > or =50 CFU/mL of bacteria on the lid margins.
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, USA.
K
K
Hashemi
A Z
AZ
Chuang
C
C
Schweitzer
J D
JD
Lanier
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001414:Bacitracin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005143:Eyelids / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009824:Ointments; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005839:Gentamicins; D009824:Ointments; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D001414:Bacitracin; D004917:Erythromycin; D015242:Ofloxacin