SUMMARY
Purpose:
Comparing the effect of the combination of sodium diclofenac-gentamicin sulfate to 0.3% gentamicin alone and diclofenac alone in an animal model of Pseudomonas keratitis.
Methods:
Sixty rabbits were randomized into six masked groups of 10 rabbits. Animals were randomly assigned to one of the six coded treatment groups as follow: Group I (0.1% sodium diclofenac - 0.3% gentamicin sulfate; Group II (vehicle of 0.1% sodium diclofenac 0.1% - 0.3% gentamicin sulfate); Group III (0.1% sodium diclofenac); Group IV (0.3% gentamicin sulfate); Group V (BSS); Group VI (was sacrificed to establish the baseline of bacterial corneal growth). Drugs were administered hourly in the first day, and seven times a day for the next six days. Conjunctival swabs and clinical evaluations were performed before infection and on days 1, 3 and 8. Rabbits were sacrificed 8 days after infection, and the number of bacteria was quantified.
Results:
The number of rabbits with descemetocele at day 3 was hightest in groups V and III, with statistically significant difference between them. None of the animals in the gentamicin group needed to be sacrificed. By days 3 and 8, conjunctival and corneal clinical signs in all groups were similar. Groups I and IV had the lowest scores and groups II and III had the highest scores, but there was no significant difference among them. There was no significant difference between the number of colonies of Pseudomonas counted from specimens of conjunctiva and cornea during the experiment.
Conclusion:
0.1% sodium diclofenac therapy does not adversely affect the results of antibiotic therapy with 0.3% gentamicin sulfate in the treatment of experimental Pseudomonas keratitis.