Table 1

MICs of antimicrobials in bacterial keratitis

OrganismFluoroquinoloneSystemic breakpoint (mg/L)MIC90
keratitis isolates
(mg/L)
MIC90
systemic isolates (mg/L)
References
Staphylococcus aureus*Ciprofloxacin1.000.25–128>3212 30 79 87 88
OfloxacinNA0.5 to >81 to >812 30 87–89
Levofloxacin1.000.38–16>1612 30 87 90
Moxifloxacin0.250.09–4812 30 79 87 88
StreptococciCiprofloxacinNA1–41–6412 30 63 79 87 88
OfloxacinNA1.5–42–412 30 87–89
Levofloxacin2.001–1.56412 30 79 87
Moxifloxacin0.500.12–0.380.25–412 30 79 87 88
Pseudomonas aeruginosaCiprofloxacin0.500.25–0.50.512 30 79 87 88
OfloxacinNA1.5–2>812 30 87–89
Levofloxacin1.000.52–1212 30 79 87
MoxifloxacinN/A1–4412 30 79 87 91
CoNSCiprofloxacin1.000.38–641 to >812 30 87–89
OfloxacinNA0.75–321 to >812 30 87–89
Levofloxacin1.000.25–1288–1612 30 92 93
Moxifloxacin0.250.06–160.1212 30 88 93 94
EnterobacteriaceaeCiprofloxacin0.500.120.12–1630 79 87 89
Ofloxacin0.500.380.25 to >830 89 93 95
Levofloxacin1.000.190.06–6430 87 96
Moxifloxacin0.250.25–1.370.12–12830 79 88 91 93
  • Systemic breakpoints, with MIC90 values, for systemic and bacterial keratitis isolates for the FQs currently in ophthalmic use. The MIC90 for both systemic and keratitis isolates are provided for comparison. If the MIC of the bacteria is much less than the lower quartile concentration, then it is likely that the bacteria will be clinically susceptible to that antimicrobial. If the MIC exceeds the lower quartile MIC consider modifying treatment (e.g increasing the frequency or changing route), combining antimicrobials or changing antimicrobials.

  • *Includes MRSA and MSSA

  • †Includes α-haemolytic streptococci, β-haemolytic streptococci and S. pneumoniae

  • ‡Includes MRCoNS and MSCoNS

  • MICs, minimum inhibitory concentrations; NA, not available.