Aetiology and antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial keratitis at a referral centre in southern Sweden
Abstract
This was a retrospective cross-sectional study evaluating the aetiology and antibiotic susceptibility in patients treated for suspected bacterial keratitis at Skåne University Hospital during 2019. Inclusion criteria: eyes with bacterial keratitis. Exclusion criteria: co-infection with other microbes. Primary outcome parameters: predisposing factors, causative pathogens and antibiotic susceptibility. Secondary outcome parameter: antibiotic treatment. A total of 255 cases met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 149 (58%) occurred in contact lens wearers. Corneal cultures, when performed, were positive in 51% of cases. For eyes which had received antibiotic treatment prior to corneal culture (n = 36), the proportion of positive cultures was 50%. Ulcers < 1 mm were less likely to yield a positive culture than those ≥ 1 mm. The most frequently isolated bacteria were coagulase-negative staphylococci (48%). Antibiotic resistance rates were lowest to levofloxacin (0%), ciprofloxacin (2%) and chloramphenicol (4%), and highest to fusidic acid (47%) and clindamycin (19%). The low proportion of positive cultures from small ulcers suggests that these warrant a different diagnostic approach. Furthermore, corneal cultures from eyes with ongoing antibiotic treatment were positive to the same extent as those from untreated eyes, suggesting that discontinuation of antibiotic treatment before re-culturing might not be necessary.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 36 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Ferulic acid regulates the AKT/GSK-3β/CRMP-2 signaling pathway in a middle cerebral artery occlusion animal model
- Novel Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Parameters Quantify the Exposure–Effect Relationship of Levofloxacin against Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Escherichia coli
- Photochemical behavior of levofloxacin
- Correlation Between Dissolution Profiles of Salt-Form Drugs in Biorelevant Bicarbonate Buffer and Oral Drug Absorption: Importance of Dose/ Fluid Volume Ratio
- Evaluation of the synergistic potential and mechanisms of action for de novo designed cationic antimicrobial peptides
- Synthesis of [11C]levofloxacin
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.