Abstract

Objective. The aim of the study was to determine the spectrum of microbes isolated from eye swabs, to evaluate the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics and to compare it with the choice of topical agents used.
Material and methods. The results of eye swab cultures sent from Eye Clinic of Tartu University Hospital in 2017 – 2021 were
analyzed.
Bacteria and fungi were identified by MALDI-TOF MS, viruses were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method, resistance was interpreted using EUCAST
breakpoints.
The list of topical agents came from the State Agency of Medicines and from the sales data of the Register of Medicinal Products.
Results and Conclusions. During the study 829 microbes were identified at the genus or species level. Staphylococci, haemophilias, pneumococci, enterobacteria, moraxella and viridans group streptococci predominated.
Two-thirds of the bacteria were more than 80% sensitive to the antibiotics tested. The susceptibility (%) of bacteria to topical antibiotics used in Estonia was as follows: chloramphenicol 89.2, levofloxacin 91.2, moxif loxacin 92, tobramycin 90.5 and ciprofloxacin 89.7. Thus, all of these topical antibiotics are suitable for the topical treatment of ocular infections.
Of the eye swabs examined, most often HSV viruses were detected, followed by adenovirus.
These results would allow the creation of a separate order panel based on microbial groups.