title: A prospective study determining the efficacy of topical 0.5% levofloxacin on bacterial flora of patients with chronic blepharoconjunctivitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To determine the efficacy of conjunctival bacterial eradication following a 1-day, 3-day and 7-day application of topical 0.5% levofloxacin, with and without eyelid scrub, in patients with chronic blepharoconjunctivitis (CBC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with CBC (n = 60) were prospectively randomized to three groups (n = 20 in each group): no antibiotic treatment, topical levofloxacin four times per day in both eyes, and eyelid scrub in addition to topical levovofloxacin four times a day in both eyes. Patients without CBC (n = 40) were enrolled as the negative control group. Cultures of the conjunctiva were obtained from both eyes at baseline, 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days following treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common bacteria isolated for all groups at baseline were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Eight patients did not complete the study. The remaining 52 patients with CBC had a significantly higher rate of positive thioglycolate broth cultures (94%) compared to a 58% positive culture rate in patient without CBC (P < 0.0001). Treatment with at least 3 days of topical antibiotic in patient with CBC resulted in a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the number of thioglycolate positive cultures (<or= 60%) compared to non-treated eyes (>or= 88%). Following a minimum of a 1-day application of antibiotic, the median colony-forming unit was 0-1 compared to 3-8 for eyes without antibiotic treatment (P < 0.05). Scrubbing of the eyelids did not provide further benefit compared to antibiotic treatment alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CBC eyes have a significantly higher number of positive cultures than eyes without CBC. The application of topical 0.5% levofloxacin for at least 3 days provided a significant reduction in the number of positive cultures as well as the number of bacteria harbored on the conjunctival surface.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Yazmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yactayo-Miranda
authors.forename: Christopher N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Ta
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Kreutzer
authors.forename: Martin M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Nentwich
authors.forename: Anselm
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kampik
authors.forename: Herminia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mino de Kaspar
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001762:Blepharitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000382:microbiology; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D064704:Levofloxacin; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin