Antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria isolated from cats with ulcerative keratitis in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria isolated from corneal ulcers in cats.

METHODS

A total of 92 cats with infected corneal ulcers were swabbed for bacterial culture and the antibiotic sensitivity of the isolates analysed.

RESULTS

Bacteria were isolated from 54 of 92 infected eyes with corneal ulcers and purulent discharge. A total of 59 bacterial isolates were obtained from the 54 ulcers. The ratio of Gram-positive to Gram-negative isolates was approximately 3:1. The most commonly isolated Gram-positive bacteria were Staphylococcus species (51 per cent of all isolates), while Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13.5 per cent of all isolates) was the most common Gram-negative bacteria isolated. The Gram-negative isolates demonstrated a greater incidence of antibiotic resistance than the Gram-positive ones. The most effective antibiotics against the isolates were ciprofloxacin, tobramycin and gentamicin, with erythromycin and lincomycin showing the greatest number of resistant isolates.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas species were the most common Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, respectively, isolated from feline eyes with ulcerative keratitis. The second-generation fluoroquinolone, ciprofloxacin and the aminoglycoside gentamicin were found to be highly effective against the majority of isolates.