Treatment of corneal infection with ps. pyocyanea by subconjunctival injection of polymyxin E.

THE properties of polymyxin in relation to ocular therapeutics have recently been discussed at some length ; the penetration of this antibiotic into the eye of the rabbit after subconjunctival injection was estimated and the results obtained in the treatment of corneal infection experimentally produced with Ps. pyocyanea have been reported (Ainslie and Smith, 1951). It is well known that this type of ocular infection runs an unusually serious course in man. In view of its resistance to the methods of treatment -including the usual antibiotics-hitherto employed clinically, in contrast to the satisfactory results obtained during investigations on animals, it was decided to proceed with clinical trials. The treatment with Polymyxin E of six proved cases of corneal infection due to Ps. pyocyanea and of two further cases showing the clinical features of such infection but without cultural confirmation are reported below.