Bacterial susceptibility in vitro evaluation of the fluorquinolone norflaxacin in ocular infections in a reference service

The authors analyze the sensitivity in vitro to fluorquinolone norfloxacin of 224 microrganisms isolated from 213 consecutive cultures obtained at the Laboratory of External Pathology of Escola Paulista de Medicina from August 1989 to July 1990.

Microrganisms were isolated from ocular infections (blepharitis, blepharo-conjunctivitis, conjunctivitis, corneal ulcers, dacriocystitis, endophthalmia and meiobomitis) and submitted to antibiograma for norfloxacin, tobramicin, amicacin, gentamicin and cephalotin.

Norfloxacin was found to be highly active against S. epidermidis It showed a similar level of activity to gentamicin against Pseudomonas and Haemophilus. Its efficacy was inferior to gentamicin against P. mirabilis and P. vulgaris. It did not show higher activity than cephalotin against S. aureus and S. pneumonia either.