Bacteriologic Study of Ocular Isolates from Infectious External Eye Diseases

Park, Mi Ra; Hahn, Tae Won; Kim, Jae Ho

Abstract

We performed this study to evaluate the spectrum of etiologic microorganisms and antibiotic sensitivity of current microorganisms in external eye diseases. From 1992 to 1996, 967 specimens were obtained in cases of suspected microbial infection of external eye disease. Antibiotic sensitivity test was done by disk diffusion method. Among 967 specimens, 339(35%) were culture positive. Of the positive cultures, Gram positive organisms were cultured in 222(65.5%)specimens, Gram negative organisms in 101(29.8%) and fungi in 12(3.5%). In Gram positive bacteria, coagulase negative staphylococcus was the most commonly isolated organism(51.7%). In Gram negative organisms, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was predominant(47.4%). The antibiotic resistant rate of S. aureus(54 strains) was 96% to penicillin, 69% to genatamicin, and 5 strains(9%) showed resistance to ciprofloxacin. Coagulase negative staphylococcus(89 strains) showed high resistance to penicillin(91%), gentamicin(64%), and ciprofloxacin(13%). P. aeruginosa(36 strains) represented 11% of resistance to gentamicin and 1 strain showed resistance to ciprofloxacin. From these results the common patholoic organisms showed high resistance rate to clinically used antibiotics, even to fluoroquinolones. Thus, careful use of topical antibiotics, even to fluoroquinolones. Thus, careful use of topical antibiotics according to principles of antibiotic therapy is required.