A Review of the Categorizations of Mild, Moderate, and Severe Bacterial Keratitis Ulcers and Day-1 Treatment Regimen When Using the Topical Fluoroquinolones 0.3% Ciprofloxacin and 0.3% Ofloxacin.

Background: There are published suggestions that bacterial keratitis (BK) can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe and that the day-1 antibiotic drop regimen may differ for each category using the topical second-generation fluoroquinolones 0.3% ciprofloxacin and 0.3% ofloxacin (2FQ). The classification criteria are not consistently defined and the suggested regimens are often unreferenced and so here, the evidence base for applying such regimens in clinical practice is examined.

Objective: To examine the evidence base regarding the categorization criteria used for BK and determine whether any evidence exists to support suggestions that different day-1 treatment regimen using the 2FQ may be applied based on any assigned categorization.

Methods: The literature on BK treatment was reviewed, as were the clinical studies involving the commercially available 2FQ. All statements pertaining to classification and treatment paradigms involving BK were then collated and reviewed, as were the methodologies employed in the 2FQ clinical studies.

Results: There have been no clinical trials using the 2FQ, or indeed any other topical antibiotics, which have used different day-1 drop regimen depending on the size, depth, and location of the ulcer or for ulcers classified as mild, moderate, or severe. Thus, there is no evidence to support the suggestion that a lower number of drops on day 1 is as effective as a higher number on categorized BK ulcers.

Conclusions: No standardized method of categorizing BK was found, and there is no evidence to support the contention that mild, moderate, or smaller BK ulcers should be treated any differently to larger or severe ulcers on day 1. The manufacturers of 2FQ do not supply different treatment regimens for different ulcer sizes and severity categories. When using the 2FQ, all BK ulcers should be treated equally in line with the manufacturers' recommended day-1 treatment regimen.