2002 Ocular Microbiology and Immunology Group, Abstract 15

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Comparative efficacy of topical Gatifloxacin with fortified Amikacin, Clarithromycin, and Ciprofloxacin in the treatment of experimental Mycobacterium chelonae keratitis in an experimental rabbit model
Joon-Young Hyon M.D., Myung-Jin Joo M.D., Terrence P. O'Brien M.D.
Ocular Microbiology Laboratory, The Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Purpose: To investigate the effect of topical gatifloxacin (0.3%), ciprofloxacin (0.3%),
gatifloxacin (0.3%) combined with fortified amikacin (50mg/ml), and gatifloxacin (0.3%)
combined with fortified amikacin and clarithromycin (10mg/ml) on Mycobacterium chelonae
keratitis in an experimental model in rabbits.

Methods: Forty New Zealand albino rabbits were randomly divided into five groups consisting of 8 rabbits. Unilateral intrastromal corneal inoculations of nontuberculous Mycobacterial chelonae were performed. Each inoculum consisted of 104 organisms (10 microliter, 106 organisms/ml). Immediately after each inoculation a subconjunctival injection of dexamethasone phosphate (0.5 ml, 4 mg/ml) was administered in the same eye. After the development of clinical infection, topical antibiotic eyedrops were applied solely or in combination onto the affected right eyes every 1 hour for 12 hours. The treatment efficacy was judged by quantitative culture of the homogenates from the excised infected corneas.

Results: All treatments significantly reduced the number of organisms in treated eyes compared to untreated, control eyes (all p-values <0.05).

Conclusion: Gatifloxacin could be useful for the treatment of nontuberculous Mycobacterial chelonae keratitis, an increasingly recognized opportunistic pathogen following keratorefractive surgical procedures.

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