We report a case of drug induced hepatitis attributable to conjunctival administration of chloramphenicol. Although hepatobiliary complications resulting from systemic chloramphenicol have been described,1 such reactions after topical application have not been reported in adults.

A 37 year old male engineer was treated for conjunctivitis with 0.5% chloramphenicol eye drops (one drop in each eye every two hours for 24 hours followed by one drop every six hours for four days) as suggested by the BNF.2 He complained of lethargy, pruritus, dark urine, and icteric sclera seven days after completing the …