2001 Ocular Microbiology and Immunology Group, Abstract 16

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Vancomycin Kill Curves for Ocular Isolates
R.W. Snyder¹. T. Krueger² and D.E. Nix^2
1Departments of Ophthalmology and ²Pharmacy Practice & Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Purpose: Intracameral vancomycin has been advocated to prevent post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis. To be effective it must be broad spectrum, non-toxic, and fast acting. In this study we determined the kill curves against ocular isolates.

Methods: The MICs were determined for 15 coagulase-negative Staphylococcus sp and S.aureus isolates. Kill curves were performed at 8-16 x MIC, 2-4 x MIC and 0.5-1 x MIC over eight hours, with counts at time 0, 2h, 4h and 8h.

Results: MICs ranged from 1-2µg/ml. Average killing was 2.3 logs for coagulase-negative Staphylococcus sp. and 1.7 logs for S.aureus after 8h of exposure to concentrations >4 x MIC. The extent of killing did not correlate with the vancomycin concentration relative to the MIC of the organism as long as concentration was >2-4µg/ml.

Conclusions: Vancomycin killing of the ocular isolates was slow and variable. Vancomycin may not be the optimum drug to use.

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