Topical pefloxacin in 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 labell ed clinical trial. All patients underwent a complete clinical and microbiol ogical work up and were put on topical 0.3% pefloxacin drops with supportiv e cycloplegic, vitamins and antiglaucoma therapy. Of 42 cases, 4 cases of m ycotic 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 Staphyl ococci (12/32; 37.5%) were the two most common organisms isolated. Resoluti on of the corneal ulcer was achieved in 31 out of 32 cases (96.9%) with a m ean duration of 9.3 +/- 5.3 days (range 3-21 days). Best corrected visual a cuity of 20/200 or better was achieved in 65.6% of cases at 4 weeks post re solution. Corneal deposits were observed in one case which disappeared 8 da ys following discontinuation of therapy. Conclusions: Topical pefloxacin is effective as a single antibiotic agent for the treatment of bacterial kera titis.