Antimicrobial susceptibility of Gram-positive cocci isolated from patients with conjunctivitis and keratitis in Crete, Greece.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the in vitro susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) ocular isolates to antibiotics, and identify changing trends in resistance over a 10-year period.


METHODS
All isolates from ocular infections collected between 2000 and 2009 were prospectively tested against several antibiotics in vitro. S. pneumoniae isolates (n = 93) were tested against 20 and S. aureus (n = 120) and CoNS (n = 214) against 19 antibiotics. To identify changes in susceptibility patterns, we compared results from 2000-2004 with those from 2005-2009. We also compared the antibiotic susceptibilities against aminoglycosides and quinolones between methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) isolates.


RESULTS
All S. pneumoniae isolates were susceptible to quinolones, and 99% were susceptible to chloramphenicol. Regarding S. aureus, we noted a significant increase in resistance against penicillin in recent years (p = 0.016). Over 90% of S. aureus isolates were susceptible to quinolones and aminoglycosides. MRSA isolates were more resistant to ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin than MSSA isolates were (p = 0.016). Concerning CoNS, a significant increase in susceptibility to amikacin was noted in the second study period (p = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Quinolones remain an excellent treatment option for bacterial conjunctivitis and keratitis due to Gram-positive cocci in our region.
Department of Pediatrics, Democritus University of Thrace Medical School and University General District Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Thrace, Greece.
Elpis
E
Mantadakis
Sofia
S
Maraki
Lambros
L
Michailidis
Zoe
Z
Gitti
Ioannis G
IG
Pallikaris
George
G
Samonis
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007634:Keratitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents