Clinical and microbiological efficacy of levofloxacin administered three times a day for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

This randomized, investigator-masked study aimed to compare the clinical and microbiological effectiveness of three times daily administration of levofloxacin 0.5% eyedrops with the classic, more frequent dosing in patients with bacterial conjunctivitis.

METHODS:

A total of 120 patients with symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis were enrolled. The patients were randomly assigned to receive 0.5% levofloxacin eyedrops three times daily to each eye for 5 days (experimental dosage group), or every 2 hours on days 1 and 2, and then every 4 hours on days 3-5 (up to four times per day) (classic dosage group). Ocular symptoms and signs were assessed on day 1, days 3 to 4, and 7 +/- 1 visits. Conjunctival cultures were obtained at baseline and final visits. Clinical outcomes were based on resolution of cardinal signs. Microbial outcomes were based on culture results.

RESULTS:

Eighty-six patients (41 experimental dosage, 45 classic dosage) were evaluated. There was no difference between the groups in frequency of patients with clinical outcome resolved (85.4% in experimental vs 93.3% in classic dosage group, p=0.3). The microbial eradication rates did not differ statistically between the groups (92.7% vs 95.6%, respectively, p=0.67).

CONCLUSIONS:

There was no statistically significant difference in the efficacy or safety between the two methods of drug administration. Analysis of the results of compliance supported our conclusion that the less frequent method of dosing of 0.5% levofloxacin eyedrops was more convenient for patients and resulted in better adherence to the drug-dosing scheme.

• Authors: J Szaflik, J P Szaflik, A Kaminska, Levofloxacin Bacterial Conjunctivitis Dosage Study Group
• Journal: European journal of ophthalmology (Eur J Ophthalmol) 2009 Jan-Feb Vol. 19 Issue 1 Pg. 1-9 ISSN: 1120-6721 [Print] United States
• PMID: 19123142 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Ophthalmic Solutions
• Levofloxacin
• Ofloxacin

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Bacteria (drug effects, isolation & purification)
• Conjunctivitis, Bacterial (drug therapy, microbiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Levofloxacin
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Ofloxacin (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Ophthalmic Solutions (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Patient Compliance
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult