The latest results from a long-term US study revealed the prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria is common in eye infections.
The 10-year results of the ongoing, multicentre, prospective Antibiotic resistance monitoring in ocular microorganisms (ARMOR) surveillance study, which evaluated data from bacterial isolates collected from 2009 to 2018, showed that in vitro antibiotic resistance is prevalent nationwide in the US among ocular staphylococci.
Published in Jama Ophthalmology, the Bausch and Lomb-sponsored study, is the only ongoing surveillance study of its kind. One in three Staphylococcus aureus and one in two coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) were methicillin-resistant, and three in four methicillin-resistant staphylococci were multidrug-resistant (to ≥three classes of antibiotics).
"Antibiotic resistance, which can complicate the choice of antibiotic in clinical practice and, in some cases lead to treatment failure, is a growing concern that can make it difficult for eye care professionals to effectively treat their patients with eye infections," said Professor Penny Asbell, lead ARMOR study author from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
