Fluoroquinolone resistance in bacterial isolates from ocular infections: Trend in antibiotic susceptibility patterns between 2005-2020

PURPOSE: To assess the fluoroquinolone resistance pattern and trends among bacterial isolates from ocular infections over a 16-year period and explore alternative antibiotics in fluoroquinolone-resistant strains. METHODS: In this retrospective, longitudinal study, the microbiology laboratory records of patients with different ocular infections diagnosed at an eye institute in central India from 2005–2020 were reviewed to determine the pattern of fluoroquinolone (ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, gatifloxacin, and moxifloxacin) resistance. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. RESULTS: In 725 Gram-positive bacteria, the resistance of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, gatifloxacin, and moxifloxacin was 55.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 52.2 – 59.6), 42.7% (95% CI: 39.0 – 46.4), 47.6% (95% CI: 43.9 – 51.3), and 45.6% (95% CI: 41.7–49.5), respectively. In 266 Gram-negative bacteria, the resistance of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, gatifloxacin, and moxifloxacin was 57.9% (95% CI: 51.9 – 63.9), 56.0% (95% CI: 49.7 – 62.1), 59.9% (95% CI: 53.8 – 66.0), and 74.3% (95% CI: 68.3 – 80.2), respectively. A declining trend in resistance to ciprofloxacin (P < 0.001), ofloxacin (P < 0.001), and moxifloxacin (P < 0.001) was seen in Gram-positive bacteria, whereas a reduction in resistance to only moxifloxacin (P = 0.04) was seen in Gram-negative bacteria. In fluoroquinolone-resistant Gram-positive bacteria, cefuroxime exhibited the highest susceptibility, whereas in fluoroquinolone-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, colistin exhibited the highest susceptibility. CONCLUSION: Fluoroquinolone resistance was high among bacteria from ocular infections in central India, but a declining trend in resistance to some of the fluoroquinolones was observed in recent times. Cefuroxime and colistin emerged as alternatives in fluoroquinolone-resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial infections, respectively.