Ocular infections and stewardship practices for Ophthalmologists: The RED EYE AMSP model.

Authors

Prasan K Panda, Biswajeet Sahoo, Ramanuj Samanta

Published in

Indian journal of ophthalmology. Volume 74. Issue Suppl 3. Pages S329-S332. Oct 01, 2026. Epub Oct 02, 2026.

Abstract

Ocular infections, ranging from conjunctivitis and keratitis to postoperative and device-associated endophthalmitis, remain a significant cause of preventable visual morbidity worldwide. In India and other low- and middle-income countries, the irrational use of topical and systemic antimicrobials, often without microbiological confirmation, has contributed to the emergence of multidrug-resistant ocular pathogens. Fluoroquinolone-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa , methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus , and resistant Fusarium and Candida species are now major challenges in ophthalmic practice. The widespread availability of over-the-counter ophthalmic drops, empirical perioperative prophylaxis, and the use of steroid-antibiotic combinations exacerbate this problem. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in ophthalmology, though relatively underdeveloped, is now a global priority. The Society of Antimicrobial Stewardship PractIce (SASPI) in India advocates an integrated AMS model linking diagnostic, preventive, therapeutic, and administrative strategies. For ophthalmologists, this translates into culture-guided therapy for recalcitrant or postsurgical infections, restricting the use of broad-spectrum or prolonged topical antimicrobials, enforcing asepsis during surgeries, and adopting antimicrobial auditing systems. The RED EYE AMSP model presented in this perspective provides a ten-point, ophthalmology-specific adaptation of the SASPI framework focusing on rational prescribing, evidence-based diagnostics, environmental safety, and interprofessional partnership. By embracing stewardship, ophthalmologists can preserve antimicrobial efficacy, minimize iatrogenic resistance, and contribute to the broader One Health goal of antimicrobial resistance containment.

PMID:
42826044
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 03 Oct 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.