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Clarithromycin for experimental Staphylococcus aureus keratitis
E B Hume1, J M Moreau, L L Conerly
1Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, LSU Medical Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Current Eye Research
|June 18, 1999
Summary
Clarithromycin effectively treated Staphylococcus aureus keratitis in rabbits, significantly reducing bacterial load. This macrolide antibiotic shows promise as an ocular medication for bacterial eye infections.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Bacterial keratitis is a significant cause of vision loss.
- Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogen in bacterial keratitis.
- Limited antibiotic options exist for certain S. aureus strains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of clarithromycin against Staphylococcus aureus keratitis.
- To compare clarithromycin with erythromycin, minocycline, and tetracycline in a rabbit keratitis model.
Main Methods:
- Rabbit eyes were infected with methicillin-sensitive or methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains.
- Eyes were treated with topical antibiotics (clarithromycin, erythromycin, tetracycline, minocycline) or vehicle.
- Bacterial load (CFU/cornea) was quantified at 10 hours postinfection.
Main Results:
- All antibiotic treatments significantly reduced bacterial CFU compared to controls.
- Clarithromycin and erythromycin demonstrated superior efficacy, reducing CFU by approximately 5 logs (methicillin-sensitive) and 4 logs (methicillin-resistant).
- Tetracycline and minocycline were also effective but less so than clarithromycin and erythromycin.
Conclusions:
- Clarithromycin is an effective ocular treatment for experimental S. aureus keratitis.
- Its efficacy in this model suggests a potential role for clarithromycin as a valuable ocular antibiotic.