Update on Antimicrobial Resistance and Ocular Isolates

Abstract

The phenomenon of “Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)” is as old as the era of antibiotics. However, currently, it is posing a serious challenge in the management of various infectious diseases including ocular infections. Realizing the seriousness of the problem, the World Health Organization and other health agencies have adopted several programs to contain the menace. The surveillance of AMR is an essential part of the action plan and has contributed significant knowledge in this field. In the last decade, three nationwide surveillance studies from United States addressed AMR among ocular isolates. These studies indicate that AMR in ocular infections shows trends similar to systemic infections. Realizing the value of surveillance studies, there is a need to conduct similar studies in other parts of the world because AMR trends demonstrate regional variations. Further, there is enough evidence to suggest that prolonged and recurrent use of topical antibiotics in ophthalmology can result in colonization of the ocular surface by resistant organisms.