Surveillance of the susceptibility of ocular bacterial pathogens to the fluoroquinolone gatifloxacin and other antimicrobials in Europe during 2001/2002.

Objectives: To determine the identity of European ocular bacterial pathogens and their susceptibility to topical antimicrobial agents.

Methods: Bacterial isolates derived from clinically significant ocular infections were collected from 10 European centres. Bacteria were re-identified and susceptibility to gatifloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, fusidic acid, gentamicin and chloramphenicol was determined using the NCCLS agar incorporation method at a central testing laboratory.