PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness of topically applied fluoroquinolones for experimental Pseudomonas or Serratia keratitis. METHODS: Bacteria were injected intrastromally (10(3) colony forming units [CFU]). From 16 to 22 hours post-infection (PI), a single topical drop of moxifloxacin (Vigamox, 0.545%), levofloxacin (Quixin, 0.5%), ofloxacin (Ocuflox, 0.3%) or ciprofloxacin (Ciloxan, 0.3%) was applied every 30 minutes. At 23 hours PI, corneas were cultured quantitatively. RESULTS: For Pseudomonas keratitis, untreated eyes contained 7 log CFU/cornea and antibiotic-treated eyes demonstrated a > or = 5-log reduction in CFU/cornea (p < or = 0.0001). Moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, or ciprofloxacin therapies were not significantly different from each other (p > or = 0.67). For Serratia keratitis, untreated eyes contained 7 logCFU/cornea whereas treated eyes had a > or = 2-log reduction (p < or = 0.0001). Moxifloxacin therapy proved most effective (p < or = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, moxifloxacin was the most effective of the four fluoroquinolones in reducing CFU/cornea in the rabbit model of gram-negative keratitis.
PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness of topically applied fluoroquinolones for experimental Pseudomonas or Serratia keratitis. METHODS: Bacteria were injected intrastromally (10(3) colony forming units [CFU]). From 16 to 22 hours post-infection (PI), a single topical drop of moxifloxacin (Vigamox, 0.545%), levofloxacin (Quixin, 0.5%), ofloxacin (Ocuflox, 0.3%) or ciprofloxacin (Ciloxan, 0.3%) was applied every 30 minutes. At 23 hours PI, corneas were cultured quantitatively. RESULTS: For Pseudomonas keratitis, untreated eyes contained 7 log CFU/cornea and antibiotic-treated eyes demonstrated a > or = 5-log reduction in CFU/cornea (p < or = 0.0001). Moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, or ciprofloxacin therapies were not significantly different from each other (p > or = 0.67). For Serratia keratitis, untreated eyes contained 7 logCFU/cornea whereas treated eyes had a > or = 2-log reduction (p < or = 0.0001). Moxifloxacin therapy proved most effective (p < or = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, moxifloxacin was the most effective of the four fluoroquinolones in reducing CFU/cornea in the rabbit model of gram-negative keratitis.