L.A. SECHI, I. LEZCANO, N. NUNEZ, M. ESPIM, I. DUPRÈ, A. PINNA, P. MOLICOTTI, G. FADDA AND S. ZANETTI. 2001. Aims: To evaluate the antimicrobial effect of the ozonized sunflower oil (Oleozon) on di...

AIMS To identify and determine antibiotic susceptibility of coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) isolated from patients with chronic blepharitis, purulent conjunctivitis, and suppurative keratitis. METHODS A retrospective review of all culture positive cases of chronic blepharitis, purulent conjunctivitis, and suppurative keratitis between July 1995 and December 1996 was performed. Cases in which CoNS were the sole isolates were analysed. Species identification was performed by using a commercially available standardised biochemical test system. Antibiotic susceptibility to penicillin, gentamicin, tetracycline, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, and teicoplanin was determined by agar disc diffusion (Kirby–Bauer method). Teicoplanin resistance was confirmed by agar dilution. RESULTS 42Staphylococcus epidermidis, fourS warneri, three S capitis, two S hominis, one each ofS xylosus, S simulans, S equorum, andS lugdunensis were identified. 37 CoNS were penicillin resistant, 12 gentamicin resistant, 28 tetracycline resistant, 18 erythromycin resistant, four ciprofloxacin resistant, and one teicoplanin resistant (MIC, 32 μg/ml). In total, 16 strains were resistant to three or more antibiotics. CONCLUSION Species of CoNS apart from S epidermidis may be isolated from patients with corneal and external infection. Antibiotic susceptibility of CoNS is unpredictable and multiresistant strains are common. As a result, antibiotic susceptibility testing should be performed in all cases of clinically significant ocular infections caused by CoNS.

To assess the effect of oral linoleic and gamma-linolenic acid, 2 omega-6 essential fatty acids, on meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Fifty-seven patients with MGD (27 men and 30 women) were randomly divided into 3 groups of 19. Group A received tablets containing linoleic acid (28.5 mg) and gamma-linolenic acid (15 mg) once daily. Group B performed eyelid hygiene once daily. Group C received both treatments. Initially and after 60 and 180 days of therapy, all patients completed a self-evaluation questionnaire on ocular surface disorders and underwent slit-lamp examination. The following signs were evaluated: eyelid edema, eyelid margin hyperemia, meibomian secretion appearance, meibomian gland obstruction, foam collection in the tear meniscus, conjunctival hyperemia, conjunctival papillae, and corneal staining. Statistically significant improvement in symptoms occurred in all groups. After 180-day therapy, group A showed significant reduction in secretion turbidity (P = 0.02) and meibomian gland obstruction (P = 0.0001), whereas group B had significant reduction in eyelid edema (P = 0.02), corneal staining (P = 0.01), secretion turbidity (P = 0.01), and meibomian gland obstruction (P = 0.0001). Group C had significant reduction in eyelid edema (P = 0.003), foam collection in the tear meniscus (P = 0.02), corneal staining (P = 0.02), secretion turbidity (P = 0.0001), and meibomian gland obstruction (P = 0.0001). Therapy with linoleic and gamma-linolenic acid tablets along with eyelid hygiene improves symptoms and reduces eyelid margin inflammation in MGD more than either omega-6 fatty acids or eyelid hygiene alone.