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Updated: Aug 19, 2026
Intravitreal Injection and Quantitation of Infection Parameters in a Mouse Model of Bacterial Endophthalmitis
Published on: February 6, 2021
Treatment of Staphylococcus epidermidis endophthalmitis with intravitreal moxifloxacin in a rabbit model
Sitki Samet Ermis1, Zafer Cetinkaya, Halil Kiyici
1Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Afyon Kocatepe, Turkey. sametermis@hotmail.com
Abstract:
Staphylococcus epidermidis is one of the most common causes of postoperative infectious endophthalmitis, which is a serious complication of ocular surgery and penetrating trauma. Moxifloxacin is a newly developed fluoroquinolone with a potent antimicrobial activity. Corticosteroids are used in endophthalmitis to suppress devastating intraocular inflammatory response. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of intravitreal moxifloxacin alone and in combination with intravitreal dexamethasone. To the best of our knowledge, there is no published report demonstrating the effect of intravitreal moxifloxacin on bacterial endophthalmitis. One eye of each rabbit (n=24) was infected by inoculation of 10(5) colony-forming units (CFU) of S. epidermidis into the vitreus cavity. Rabbits received intravitreal injection of moxifloxacin (50 microg) or a combination of moxifloxacin (50 microg) and dexamethasone (400 microg). No treatment was given to control group. Clinical and histopathological examination scores and microbiological analysis of vitreus aspirates were compared. In the treatment groups, the clinical and histopathological scores and mean CFU were significantly lower than those in the control group (p <0.05) but showed no significant difference between the treatment groups. These results suggest that intravitreal injection of moxifloxacin is effective against S. epidermidis in this experimental rabbit model. Moxifloxacin may be a promising agent in the treatment of bacterial endophthalmitis.
Insights
Intravitreal moxifloxacin effectively treats Staphylococcus epidermidis-induced bacterial endophthalmitis in rabbits. This fluoroquinolone shows promise for treating this serious ocular infection, with or without dexamethasone.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Postoperative infectious endophthalmitis is a severe complication of ocular surgery and trauma.
- Staphylococcus epidermidis is a primary causative agent of endophthalmitis.
- Corticosteroids are used to manage intraocular inflammation in endophthalmitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal moxifloxacin, alone and combined with dexamethasone, for treating bacterial endophthalmitis.
- To investigate the effect of intravitreal moxifloxacin on S. epidermidis-induced endophthalmitis in an experimental model.
Main Methods:
- A rabbit model of Staphylococcus epidermidis endophthalmitis was established.
- Rabbits received intravitreal injections of moxifloxacin or moxifloxacin plus dexamethasone.
- Clinical, histopathological, and microbiological outcomes were assessed and compared to a control group.
Main Results:
- Both moxifloxacin monotherapy and combination therapy significantly reduced clinical and histopathological scores and bacterial load compared to controls.
- No significant difference in efficacy was observed between the moxifloxacin monotherapy and combination therapy groups.
- Intravitreal moxifloxacin demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against S. epidermidis in this model.
Conclusions:
- Intravitreal moxifloxacin is an effective treatment for experimental Staphylococcus epidermidis endophthalmitis.
- Moxifloxacin represents a potential therapeutic agent for bacterial endophthalmitis.
