Intra-ocular Predation of Fluoroquinolone-Resistant and by Predatory Bacteria.

Endogenous endophthalmitis caused by Gram-negative bacteria is an intra-ocular infection that can rapidly progress to irreversible loss of vision. While most endophthalmitis isolates are susceptible to antibiotic therapy, the emergence of resistant bacteria necessitates alternative approaches to combat intraocular bacterial proliferation. In this study the ability of predatory bacteria to limit intraocular growth of , , and was evaluated in a New Zealand White rabbit endophthalmitis prevention model. Predatory bacteria and were able to reduce proliferation of keratitis isolates of and . However, it was not able to significantly reduce which is not a productive prey for these predatory bacteria, suggesting that the inhibitory effect on requires active predation rather than an antimicrobial immune response. Similarly, UV-inactivated were unable to prevent proliferation of . Together, these data suggest predation of Gram-negative bacteria within the intra-ocular environment.