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Updated: Jul 20, 2026
07:15
Invasion of Human Cells by a Bacterial Pathogen
Published on: March 21, 2011
Gentamicin and other antibiotic toxicitiy
T Thomas1, D Galiani, R D Brod
1Department of Ophthalmology, Pennsylvania State University School of Medicine, Hershey 17604, USA.
Ophthalmology Clinics of North America
|January 15, 2002
Summary
Aminoglycoside antibiotics like gentamicin can cause severe eye toxicity. Current treatment for endophthalmitis uses ceftazidime and vancomycin for broad-spectrum bacterial coverage with reduced ocular toxicity.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Antibiotics administered inside the eye can cause significant ocular toxicity.
- Aminoglycosides, particularly gentamicin, are highly toxic to ocular tissues.
- Periocular injections of aminoglycosides require extreme caution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the ocular toxicity of antibiotics used in ophthalmology.
- To discuss current intraocular antibiotic choices for endophthalmitis management.
- To highlight safer and effective antibiotic alternatives.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of experimental and clinical studies on intraocular antibiotics.
- Analysis of antibiotic efficacy and toxicity profiles.
- Comparison of treatment outcomes for different antibiotic regimens.
Main Results:
- Gentamicin poses a high risk of ocular toxicity.
- Ceftazidime has replaced aminoglycosides for gram-negative coverage in endophthalmitis due to lower retinal toxicity.
- Intraocular vancomycin is safe and effective for gram-positive infections.
Conclusions:
- A combination of intraocular ceftazidime and vancomycin offers broad-spectrum coverage for endophthalmitis.
- This combination is the current preferred treatment for bacterial endophthalmitis.
- Careful selection of antibiotics is crucial to minimize ocular toxicity.
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