Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To compare the susceptibility of a variety of ocular pathogens to gatifloxacin and other antimicrobial agents. Methods: A total of 532 bacterial ocular pathogens from ten European sites in 6 countries collected during 2001 and 2002 were sent to a central laboratory for re–identification and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination for gatifloxacin (GAT), ciprofloxacin (CIP), ofloxacin (OFL), fusidic acid (FUS), gentamicin (GEN) and chloramphenicol (CHL) using the NCCLS agar dilution method. Results: Methicillin–susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) was the most common pathogen (23.1%), followed by H. influenzae (15.1%), S. pneumoniae (13.2%), P. aeruginosa (7.1%), Methicillin–resistant S. aureus (MRSA; 6.6%), S. epidermidis (5.1%), and other bacterial species (each <5% of total). The MIC90 (mg/L) for all 532 isolates was 2 for GAT, 8 for CIP & OFL, 32 for GEN, 64 for CHL, and >64 for FUS. GAT was the most potent antimicrobial against MSSA, S. pneumoniae and S. epidermidis and was equivalent to CIP, but superior to the other agents, against H. influenzae. The MIC90s of GAT and CIP were identical for P. aeruginosa. GAT was the most active fluoroquinolone and had moderate activity against MRSA, although less activity than FUS and GEN. Conclusions: The 4th–generation fluoroquinolone, gatifloxacin, is highly effective against a broad spectrum of bacterial pathogens commonly found in ocular infections.
Keywords: antibiotics/antifungals/antiparasitics • bacterial disease • conjunctivitis