A study of bacterial isolates from corneal specimens and their antibiotic resistance profile.
OBJECTIVE
We aim to examine the spectrum of bacteria causing corneal infections and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns. This will serve as a guideline for empiric therapy of corneal infections.


METHODS
We conducted the study over a period of 18 months from March 2001 through December 2002 in King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Corneal specimens taken from 200 patients were inoculated directly onto different types of media. The isolates were identified and then tested against the appropriate topical or systemic antibiotics.


RESULTS
Sixty-seven (33.5%) of the total specimens were culture positive and 133 (66.5%) were culture negative. Fourteen (7%) of these showed organisms in the Gram stained smears and correlated well with the culture reports. Of the 67 positive cultures, 53 (79.1%) were Gram-positive bacteria mostly coagulase-negative Staphylococci 29 (43.3%) followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) 13 (19.4%). Among Gram-negative bacteria 14 (20.9%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) 10 (14.9%) was the predominant isolate. All the isolates were sensitive to ofloxacin and the commonly used ocular antibiotics.


CONCLUSIONS
All the isolated bacteria were sensitive to ofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone. Having marked potency for broad-spectrum activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, make the fluoroquinolones especially the newer generations, a potential single drug therapy for corneal infections.
Begum
Nurun N
NN
Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Al-Khattaf
Abdulaziz S
AS
Al-Mansouri
Samir M
SM
Yeboah
Edward A
EA
Kambal
Abdel-Mageed M
AM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003315:Cornea / Q000382:microbiology*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015242:Ofloxacin