PROBLEM: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of topical pefloxacin 0.3% drops as the sole antibiotic used to treat culture positive bacterial corneal ulcers. METHODS: Forty two consecutive Gram's smear-positive cases of bacterial corneal ulcers were enrolled for this prospective open labelled clinical trial. All patients underwent a complete clinical and microbiological work up and were put on topical 0.3% pefloxacin drops with supportive cycloplegic, vitamins and antiglaucoma therapy. Of 42 cases, 4 cases of mycotic keratitis and 6 culture negative cases were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Positive microbiologic cultures were obtained in 84.2% (32 of 38) cases. Staphylococcus aureus (14/32; 43.7%) and coagulase negative Staphylococci (12/32; 37.5%) were the two most common organisms isolated. Resolution of the corneal ulcer was achieved in 31 out of 32 cases (96.9%) with a mean duration of 9.3+/-5.3 days (range 3-21 days). Best corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or better was achieved in 65.6% of cases at 4 weeks post resolution. Corneal deposits were observed in one case which disappeared 8 days following discontinuation of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Topical pefloxacin is effective as a single antibiotic agent for the treatment of bacterial keratitis.
PROBLEM: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of topical pefloxacin 0.3% drops as the sole antibiotic used to treat culture positive bacterial corneal ulcers. METHODS: Forty two consecutive Gram's smear-positive cases of bacterial corneal ulcers were enrolled for this prospective open labelled clinical trial. All patients underwent a complete clinical and microbiological work up and were put on topical 0.3% pefloxacin drops with supportive cycloplegic, vitamins and antiglaucoma therapy. Of 42 cases, 4 cases of mycotic keratitis and 6 culture negative cases were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Positive microbiologic cultures were obtained in 84.2% (32 of 38) cases. Staphylococcus aureus (14/32; 43.7%) and coagulase negative Staphylococci (12/32; 37.5%) were the two most common organisms isolated. Resolution of the corneal ulcer was achieved in 31 out of 32 cases (96.9%) with a mean duration of 9.3+/-5.3 days (range 3-21 days). Best corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or better was achieved in 65.6% of cases at 4 weeks post resolution. Corneal deposits were observed in one case which disappeared 8 days following discontinuation of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Topical pefloxacin is effective as a single antibiotic agent for the treatment of bacterial keratitis.
Authors: R A Hyndiuk; R A Eiferman; D R Caldwell; G O Rosenwasser; C I Santos; H R Katz; S S Badrinath; M K Reddy; J P Adenis; V Klauss Journal: Ophthalmology Date: 1996-11 Impact factor: 12.079