OBJECTIVE: To examine current practice patterns in the management of @entity1036 .S. ophthalmologists and differences in the management and opinions between @entity267 and non- @entity267 . METHODS: A questionnaire was distributed to randomly selected ophthalmologists in July 2011 using an online survey system. It inquired about the number of @entity1 with @entity3283 seen monthly, frequency of Gram staining and culturing @entity3283 , maintenance of diagnostic supplies, opinions on when culturing is necessary for @entity3283 , treatment preferences for different severities of @entity3283 , and opinions regarding relative efficacy of fourth-generation fluoroquinolones and fortified broad-spectrum antibiotics. RESULTS: One thousand seven hundred one surveys were distributed, and 486 (28.6%) surveys were returned. A minority of @entity3283 was Gram stained (23.7%  34.1%, mean  SD) or cultured (35.1%  38.0%), but @entity267 were more likely to perform both. The most popular antibiotic for the treatment of less severe @entity1066 was moxifloxacin (55.4%), and the most popular treatment of more severe @entity1066 was fortified broad-spectrum antibiotics (62.7%). Cornea specialists were significantly more likely than non- @entity267 to prescribe fortified antibiotics for more severe @entity3283 (78.1% vs. 53.7%, P<0.0001). A greater number of @entity267 stated that fourth-generation fluoroquinolones were less effective than fortified antibiotics for the treatment of more severe @entity3283 (79.6% of @entity267 vs. 60.9% of non- @entity267 , P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Cornea specialists and non- @entity267 manage @entity1036 , with @entity267 more likely to perform diagnostic testing and prescribe fortified broad-spectrum antibiotics for severe @entity1036 . Additional prospective studies demonstrating visual outcomes after differential treatment of @entity1036 are needed.

Community practice patterns for XXXX and treatment.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity267 :: ('MESH:D065306', 'Disease') :: ['cornea specialists'] @entity1036 :: ('MESH:D007634', 'Disease') :: ['bacterial keratitis', 'bacterial keratitis among U', 'bacterial keratitis differently'] @entity1066 :: ('MESH:D014456', 'Disease') :: ['ulcers'] @entity3283 :: ('MESH:D003320', 'Disease') :: ['bacterial corneal ulcers', 'corneal ulcers']
@entity3283 :: (MESH:D003320,Disease) :: ['bacterial corneal ulcer evaluation']
