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. 2024 Dec 10;44(9):1113-1118.
doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003770.

Microbiology Profiles and Antibiotic Susceptibility in Pediatric Microbial Keratitis

Melodyanne Y Cheng  1 , Piseth Dalin Chea  2   3 , Golshan Latifi  2   4 , Omai B Garner  5 , Sophie X Deng  1   2 , Simon S M Fung  1   2   6
Affiliations

Microbiology Profiles and Antibiotic Susceptibility in Pediatric Microbial Keratitis

Melodyanne Y Cheng et al. Cornea. .

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess trends in microbiology profiles and antibiotic susceptibility among pediatric infectious keratitis cases in Southern California, United States.

Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of patients aged 18 years or younger diagnosed with infectious keratitis with a positive microbiology culture between 2006 and 2019 at a tertiary academic institution. Patient demographics, microbiology results, and antibiotic susceptibilities were analyzed.

Results: There were 23 patients included in the study period. The mean age (±SD) was 11 ± 7 years, with 60% 10 years and older. 75% were female, and 45% were of Hispanic or Latino descent. A total of 14 patients (61%) presented between June and November. A total of 30 microorganisms were identified from 24 corneal cultures of 23 eyes, and 92% were bacterial. The most common gram-positive and gram-negative isolates were Staphylococcus spp. (5/13, 38%) and Pseudomonas spp. (9/15, 60%), respectively. 92.3% gram-positive isolates were susceptible to vancomycin, but only 7.7% were susceptible to erythromycin. Gram-negative isolates were susceptible to gentamicin (86%), ciprofloxacin (79%), and ceftazidime (55%). Pseudomonas spp. was highly susceptible to gentamicin (100%) and ciprofloxacin (83%), and it was moderately susceptible to tobramycin (44%) and ceftazidime (67%).

Conclusions: Pediatric microbial keratitis cases in Southern California were predominantly bacterial infections, with gram-positive isolates highly susceptible to vancomycin and gram-negative isolates, particularly Pseudomonas spp., showing high susceptibility to gentamicin and ciprofloxacin.

Keywords: antibiotic susceptibility; pediatric keratitis; resistance.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.
Pediatric microbial keratitis presented between 2006 and 2019. Note that the year 2012 was excluded due to loss of data.
FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 2.
A and B, Species of gram-positive (left, A) and gram-negative (right, B) bacterial isolates in pediatric microbial keratitis.
FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 3.
A and B, Antibiotic susceptibility and resistance trends among bacterial isolates in pediatric microbial keratitis. Gram-positive isolates (left, 3A); gram-negative isolates (right, 3B).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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