title: Microbial keratitis in Waikato, New Zealand.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bacterial keratitis is a potentially sight-threatening condition. This study is performed to identify the common causative organisms for bacterial keratitis in Waikato region and the antibiotic sensitivities to these organisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, observational, case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  The microbiology records of all patients with bacterial keratitis who presented to the Ophthalmology department, Waikato Hospital, New Zealand between January 2003 and December 2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  The corneal scrape results were reviewed. Antibiotic sensitivity for the organism was tested following National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) method.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro laboratory susceptibility testing of ocular isolates to various antibiotics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 265 scrapes were performed. Gram stain was positive in 35 (13.2%) eyes. Positive culture was seen in 174 (65.6%) scrapes; 78.2% were Gram-positive and 20.2% were Gram-negative organisms. Most common Gram-positive organisms were coagulase-negative Staphylococci (40.8%) and Staphylococcus aureus (11.5%). Most common Gram-negative organisms were Moraxalla species (8.0%) and Pseudomonas aeroginosa (3.4%). Of the bacterial organisms 99% were sensitive to ciprofloxacin. All Gram-negative organisms and 95.5% Gram-positive organisms were sensitive to tobramycin; 96.6% Gram-positive organisms and 98.3% Gram-negative organisms were sensitive to cefuroxime.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results are comparable to other regions in New Zealand but the incidence of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus is much higher in this region compared with other New Zealand studies. It seems appropriate to start patients with corneal ulcers initially on fluoroquinolone monotherapy while awaiting culture results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Waikato Public Hospital, Hamilton, New Zealand. panditaarchana@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pandita
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002444:Cefuroxime / Q000494:pharmacology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014031:Tobramycin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002444:Cefuroxime; D014031:Tobramycin