Toxicity of Ciprofloxacin in Vitreous Infusion Fluid on Rabbit Retina

ABSTRACT

To investigate the retinal toxicity of ciprofloxacin on retina, 23 New Zealand white rabbits received vitrectomy with intravitreal infusion that contain of 1 g/ml, 2 g/ml, 5 g/ml, 10 g/ml, and 25 g/ml of ciprofloxacin(20 eyes) or balanced salt solution(BSS) only(3 eyes). In transmission elctron microscope, no disintegration of all retinal layers and slightly irregular pattern of disc of outer segment of rod were observed in 1, 2 and 5 g/ml of ciprofloxacin groups at 14 days postinfusion. In concentration of 10 g/ml or greater, retina showed destroyed inner and outer segment of the photoreceptor cells, pyknotic nuclei in the outer nuclear layer, lucent vacoules and pigment granules in apical cytoplasm of the retinal pigment epithelium(RPE), loss of photoreceptor outer segment-RPE integration. This study suggest that infusion with 5 g/ml or less of ciprofloxacin may be safe when used in the treatment of bacterial endophthalmitis.