[Different concentrations of clarithromycin ophthalmic gel for rabbits corneal ulcers induced by staphylococcus aureus]

Author(s): Wang J, Li X, Xiong L, Sun N

Affiliation(s): Department of Ophthalmology, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China. xajdwm@163.com

Publication date & source: 2008-03, Yan Ke Xue Bao., 24(1):18-22.

Publication type: English Abstract

PURPOSE: To screen proper concentration of clarithromycin ophthalmic gel by observing the efficacy of different concentrations of clarithromycin ophthalmic gel for treating staphylococcal corneal ulcers. METHODS: Corneal ulcer was induced in the right eye of 40 rabbits, 3.0 x 10(9) CFU/ml staphylococcus aureus suspension was injected midstromally into the central cornel. These rabbits were divided randomly into 5 groups, each group received respectively topical blank matrix, clarithromycin ophthalmic gel 0.1%, clarithromycin ophthalmic gel 0.25%, levofloxacin ophthalmic gel, clarithromycin ophthalmic gel 0.25% and recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor (Rb-bFGF), 4 times every day, 2 drops each time. The eyes were examined respectively with the slit lamp before treatment (day 0), on day 3, day 5, day 7, day 10, day 14 to observe the progression of corneal ulceration, including the area of the corneal ulcer and mark of keratitis. RESULTS: Under the same way of giving medicine, experimental corneal ulcer studies showed a statistically significant decrease in all treatment groups on measurements of the area of the corneal ulcer and mark of keratitis (P < 0.05), and clarithromycin ophthalmic gel 0.25% had a better action than clarithromycin ophthalmic gel 0.1% against staphylococcus aureus corneal ulcer. CONCLUSION: Clarithromycin ophthalmic gel 0.25% was proved to be an effective ocular medication for the therapy of gram-positive bacterial corneal ulcer.