Topical azithromycin is effective for conjunctivitis

doi:10.1136/bmj.39140.628600.BE

BMJ 2007;334:560 (17 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.39140.628600.BE

News

Shortcuts from BMJPG journals

Topical azithromycin is effective for conjunctivitis

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

A three day course of a new preparation of azithromycin (1.5%eye drops (Azyter)) is as effective and safe as seven days oftobramycin 3% in treating purulent bacterial conjunctivitis.A multicentre, randomised, single blind trial recruited 1043children and adults, of whom 471 had an initial positive bacterialculture and no major deviation from protocol. On an intentionto treat analysis, the clinical cure rate at days 8-10 was 87.8%for azithromycin and 89.4% for tobramycin. The only adverseevent was a burning sensation on application: four patientscomplained of this.

The authors recommend the new preparation, especially for children,because of its reduced dosage regimen—twice daily forthree days only—rather than one drop of tobramycin everytwo hours for the first two days, followed by four times dailyfor five days. The trial was funded by Laboratoires Théa,the manufacturer of the eye drops used in the study.

[Abstract/Free Full Text]