Original Paper

The Efficacy of Intravitreal Levofloxacin and Intravitreal Dexamethasone in Experimental Staphylococcus epidermidis Endophthalmitis
Özlem Yldrm^a, Özay Öz^a, Gönül Aslan^b, Leyla Cinel^c, Nuran Delialiolu^b, Arzu Kank^d

Departments of
^aOphthalmology,
^bMicrobiology,
^cPathology, and
^dBiostatistics, Mersin University Faculty of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey

Address of Corresponding Author

Ophthalmic Res 2002;34:349-356 (DOI: 10.1159/000067047)

  Key Words

• Staphylococcus epidermidis
• Endophthalmitis
• Levofloxacin
• Fluoroquinolone
• Dexamethasone

  Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of intravitreal levofloxacin, and intravitreal levofloxacin and dexamethasone combined in Staphylococcus epidermidis endophthalmitis. Albino rabbits (n = 25), infected with an intravitreal inoculum of S. epidermidis (1.0 × 10⁵ colony forming units/0.1 ml), were divided into five groups (n = 5). Groups 1 and 2 received treatment 24 h after the inoculation, and groups 3 and 4 48 h after the inoculation. No treatment was given to the control group. Treatment efficacy was assessed by vitreous culture, clinical examination and histopathology. Five days after treatment, groups 1 and 2 had significantly lower clinical scores than the control group (p = 0.004, p = 0.007). The culture results of the treatment groups were sterile. The histopathological scores of the treatment groups were lower than the control group (p = 0.007). Studies on retinal toxicity and dose-response relation are needed to prove the efficacy of levofloxacin in S. epidermidis endophthalmitis.

Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Özlem Yldrm, MD
Mersin Üniversitesi Tp Fakültesi Hastanesi
Zeytinlibahçe Cad. TR-33070 Mersin (Turkey)
Tel. +90 324 3374300/1103, Fax +90 324 3374305
E-Mail dryildirimoz@hotmail.com

  Article Information

Received: Received: February 22, 2002
Accepted after revision: July 8, 2002
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 6, Number of References : 28