title: Efficacy of Gatifloxacin in Acute Bacterial Corneal ulcer.
abstract: Objective : To assess the efficacy of Gatifloxacin 0.3% ophthalmic solution in infective corneal ulcer. Methods : This observational (non comparative) clinical analysis was done at the Department of ophthalmology unit-II, Liaquat University Eye hospital Hyderabad of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro / Sindh, Pakistan from April 2010 to March 2012. All the subjects who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were registered. Anterior segment examination was performed. Corneal staining and sensitivity test was done to exclude viral and paralytic element. Corneal samples were collected for gram's staining and culture sensitivity tests. After getting the preliminary laboratory results, Gatifloxacin 0.3% ophthalmic solution was used in bacterial corneal ulcer every 30 minutes for first twenty four hours, and every one hour till three days. On obtaining better response the drops were used every two hours up to 7 days. The treatment was continued with tapering of dosage for three weeks. After total recovery (re-epithelialization of corneal epithelium) the drops were used two times a day for one more week. Results : The total of 170 patients (male=68.8%; female=31.2%) were recruited. Culture sensitivity examination revealed staphylococcus (36.5%), followed by fungi (24.1%). Pseudomonas thus detected were 10%. Gatifloxacin showed highest sensitivity and lowest resistance i.e. 87.65% and 12.35% respectively against gram positive and gram negative isolates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gatifloxacin 0.3% ophthalmic solution due to its strong activity against various gram-positive and gram-negative microbes is strongly effective in the treatment of acute bacterial keratitis.
authors.affiliation: Sameen Afzal Junejo, FCPS, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sameen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Afzal Junejo
authors.affiliation: Arshad Ali Lodhi, FCPS, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Arshad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali Lodhi
authors.affiliation: Munawar Ahmed, FCPS, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Munawar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Mahesh Kumar, DCP (Path), Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mahesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Mustafa Kamal, MBBS, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamal
authors.affiliation: Murtaza, MBBS, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan.
authors.lastname: Murtaza
keywords: Bacterial Corneal ulcer; Gatifloxacin; Gram-positive bacteria; Therapeutic action; gram-negative bacteria