Collagenase Inhibitors in Pseudomonas Keratitis: Adjuncts to Antibiotic Therapy in Rabbits

Collagenase inhibitors as adjuncts to antibiotic therapy were evaluated in experimentally induced Pseudomonas keratitis in rabbits. Neither the combination of 1% edetic acid (EDTA) and 0.25% polymyxin B sulfate nor that of 1.2% cysteine and 0.25% polymyxin B sulfate was more effective than the polymyxin B sulfate alone. There was a small statistical difference in favor of a combination of edetic acid-cysteine-polymyxin B sulfate when it was compared with an edetic acid-polymyxin B sulfate combination. This difference, although statistically significant, did not appear to be clinically important in the treatment of our experimental model.