Increasing ofloxacin resistance of bacterial flora from conjunctival sac of preoperative ophthalmic patients in Japan.

PURPOSE To examine the in vitro resistance to ofloxacin of preoperative bacterial isolates from the conjunctival sac of Japanese patients. METHODS The database of bacterial flora cultured preoperatively from the conjunctival sac of 1455 Japanese patients (1455 eyes) between 1995 and 1999 was reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS The incidence of resistance of isolates to ofloxacin in vitro increased from 13.5% in 1995 to 32.8% in 1999. The percentage of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus isolates resistant to ofloxacin was 19.6% and 15.0%, respectively, in 1995 and 33.7% and 28.1%, respectively, in 1999. Logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes mellitus and aging were significantly associated with ofloxacin-resistant strains of bacteria. CONCLUSION Clinicians should be aware of the increased likelihood that conjunctival sac flora is resistant to ofloxacin, especially in elderly and diabetic patients.