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Topical ciprofloxacin treatment of Pseudomonas keratitis in rabbits
T P O'Brien1, M R Sawusch, J D Dick
1Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21205.
Abstract:
Ciprofloxacin is a new quinolone antibiotic that is highly active in vitro against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A rabbit model of bacterial keratitis was used to assess the in vivo efficacy of topical ciprofloxacin. Albino rabbits received intrastromal injections of 5 X 10(2) aminoglycoside-resistant P aeruginosa organisms. At five hours after inoculation, ciprofloxacin (3 mg/mL) therapy was initiated (one drop every 30 minutes for 12 hours). Corneal tissue was then excised for bacterial colony counts. No organisms were recovered from ciprofloxacin-treated eyes, compared with an average of 3.1 X 10(7) organisms per milliliter recovered from untreated controls. This model suggests that topical ciprofloxacin may be clinically useful in the treatment of aminoglycoside-resistant P aeruginosa keratitis.
Insights
Topical ciprofloxacin effectively treated bacterial keratitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a rabbit model. This antibiotic showed significant efficacy against aminoglycoside-resistant strains, suggesting clinical potential for P. aeruginosa eye infections.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common cause of bacterial keratitis.
- Aminoglycoside resistance in P. aeruginosa poses a treatment challenge.
- Ciprofloxacin is a potent fluoroquinolone antibiotic with known activity against P. aeruginosa.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the in vivo efficacy of topical ciprofloxacin against P. aeruginosa keratitis.
- To assess ciprofloxacin's effectiveness in a rabbit model of bacterial keratitis.
- To determine if ciprofloxacin can overcome aminoglycoside resistance in P. aeruginosa.
Main Methods:
- A rabbit model of bacterial keratitis was established using intrastromal injection of P. aeruginosa.
- Aminoglycoside-resistant P. aeruginosa strains were used for inoculation.
- Topical ciprofloxacin (3 mg/mL) was administered to infected eyes.
- Corneal tissue was analyzed for bacterial colony counts post-treatment.
Main Results:
- No P. aeruginosa organisms were recovered from eyes treated with topical ciprofloxacin.
- Untreated control eyes showed an average bacterial count of 3.1 X 10(7) organisms/mL.
- Ciprofloxacin demonstrated complete eradication of P. aeruginosa in the infected corneas.
Conclusions:
- Topical ciprofloxacin is highly effective in treating experimental P. aeruginosa keratitis in rabbits.
- Ciprofloxacin shows significant potential for treating aminoglycoside-resistant P. aeruginosa infections of the cornea.
- This study supports the clinical utility of ciprofloxacin for P. aeruginosa keratitis.