Treatment of acute neonatal bacterial conjunctivitis: a comparison of fucidic acid to chloramphenicol eye drops.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To compare the clinical and bacteriological effects of fucidic acid (Fucithalmic: 1.0%) and chloramphenicol (Minims(R): 0.5%) eye drops in neonates with a clinical diagnosis of acute conjunctivitis of suspected bacterial origin.

METHODS:

A TOTAL OF 456 N: ewborns with gestational age > 32 weeks with acute conjunctivitis of suspected bacterial origin acquired within the first 28 days of life were included in the study. They were randomly assigned to a 7-day treatment with eye drops using either fucidic acid (1.0%) (Fucithalmic) applied twice per day, or chloramphenicol (0.5%) (Minims Chloramphenicol) applied six times per day. The subjects were followed up with two visits (on days 1 and 8) and by telephone 2 weeks after the end of treatment.

RESULTS:

Eighty-nine per cent of the neonates treated with Fucithalmic were cured, compared to 87.9% of those treated with Minims Chloramphenicol (n.s). The drug was used as instructed in 90.7% of patients treated with Fucithalmic and in 78.0% of those treated with Minims Chloramphenicol (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION:

Treating neonatal conjunctivitis with fucidic acid is easier than with chloramphenicol and is equally effective.

• Authors: Erik Kreyberg Normann, Odd Bakken, Juha Peltola, Bengt Andréasson, Susanne Buhl, Peter Sigg, Klaus Nielsen
• Journal: Acta ophthalmologica Scandinavica (Acta Ophthalmol Scand) Vol. 80 Issue 2 Pg. 183-7 (Apr 2002) ISSN: 1395-3907 [Print] Denmark
• PMID: 11952486 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Ophthalmic Solutions
• Fusidic Acid
• Chloramphenicol

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Bacteria (isolation & purification)
• Chloramphenicol (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Conjunctivitis, Bacterial (drug therapy, microbiology)
• Drug Evaluation
• Fusidic Acid (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Gestational Age
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Ophthalmic Solutions
• Prospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome