Loading
Ocular Infections and Treatments · Journal article
Antibiotics · September 1, 2026
Early or partial results. Treat as a signal, not a conclusion.
This is a descriptive survey of current antibiotic prescribing and diagnostic practices reported by Spanish ophthalmologists managing keratitis and ocular injuries. It documents patterns of use (e.g., topical antibiotics in 80.6% of keratitis cases) and identifies potential overuse of antibiotics, but does not test efficacy, safety, or patient outcomes.
Nationwide cross-sectional survey. 100 ophthalmologists in Spain: 50 working in emergency care and 50 ocular surface specialists. Mean age 37.9 years, 51% women, mean 10.2 years of professional activity.. Intervention: None; this is an observational survey of reported practice patterns.. n = 100. Spain (nationwide survey).
Topical antibiotics recommended in mean 80.6% of keratitis cases in general and 85.6% of contact lens-related keratitis Topical corticosteroids selected for viral keratitis with stromal and endothelial involvement in 24.3% to 50.4% of responses Chlorhexidine (52.0%) and propamidine (26.8%) chosen for Acanthamoeba keratitis
Safety was not reported in the material analysed. Check the source before drawing any conclusion about harm.
Clinicians should recognize that this survey reflects current practice patterns in Spain but does not establish optimal or evidence-based treatment. The reported high frequency of topical antibiotic use (80.6%) and limited antiseptic use may indicate practice gaps; the authors flag concern about antimicrobial resistance but provide no outcome data to guide individual clinical decisions.
A descriptive cross-sectional survey of practice patterns without a comparator, clinical outcome, or evidence of efficacy; documents real-world behaviour rather than testing an intervention or hypothesis.
As stated by the source record.
Quoted from the source exactly as published.
Clinicians should recognize that this survey reflects current practice patterns in Spain but does not establish optimal or evidence-based treatment. The reported high frequency of topical antibiotic use (80.6%) and limited antiseptic use may indicate practice gaps; the authors flag concern about antimicrobial resistance but provide no outcome data to guide individual clinical decisions.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
Background/Objectives: Infectious keratitis and eye injuries, despite being well-recognized ophthalmological diseases, continue to pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in clinical practice; therefore, this study was conducted to assess the salient features of care provided by Spanish ophthalmologists working in emergency and ocular surface consultations to patients presenting with keratitis and ocular trauma. Methods: Nationwide cross-sectional survey with the participation of 100 ophthalmologists, including 50 ophthalmologists in emergency care and 50 ocular surface specialists. The study questionnaire assessed diagnostic approaches, treatment strategies, and factors influencing therapeutic decision making. Results: The mean age of participants (51% women) was 37.9 years, with 10.2 years of professional activity. External eye examination, slit lamp examination, fluorescein staining, computed tomography (CT) in penetrating injuries, and microbiological cultures in corneal ulcers were rated as important diagnostic methods. Topical antibiotics were especially recommended for keratitis in general (mean 80.6%) and for contact lens-related keratitis (85.6%). The use of antiseptics was limited. Topical corticosteroids were most commonly selected for viral keratitis with stromal and endothelial involvement (between 24.3% and 50.4%); chlorhexidine (52.0%) and propamidine (26.8%) for Acanthamoeba keratitis; re-epithelizing compounds (20.4%) and artificial tears (29.1%) for actinic keratitis; and topical antifungals for fungal keratitis (77%). Conclusions: This study highlights a limited availability of some specific diagnostic methods and an extensive use of topical antibiotics in the management of keratitis and ocular surface injuries, with relatively limited use of antiseptics. Areas of improvement in therapeutic approach would be awareness of a potential overuse of topical antibiotics with the consequences of increase in antimicrobial resistance.
Taken from the source record, never inferred. Follow any of these and new work involving them reaches your briefing.