title: Ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solution versus rifamycin ophthalmic solution for the treatment of conjunctivitis and blepharitis.
abstract: The efficacy and safety of ciprofloxacin (0.3%) ophthalmic solution and rifamycin (1%) ophthalmic solution for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis and blepharitis was compared in this randomized, double-masked, parallel-group study. Forty-one patients, 19 on ciprofloxacin and 22 on rifamycin, were culture-positive on admission and evaluated for efficacy. There was clinical improvement in more than 90% of patients in each group at the end of the seven-day treatment period. However, clinical cure rates on day 7 appeared to be higher with ciprofloxacin (53%) than rifamycin (23%; p = 0.061, Mann-Whitney test). Bacteriological eradication rates were comparable: the infecting organisms were eradicated in 68% of patients on ciprofloxacin and 77% with rifamycin. There were no serious adverse reactions to either treatment. One patient in each group was withdrawn on account of a mild allergy. In conclusion, topical ciprofloxacin was effective and well tolerated and would be a particularly useful agent for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis and blepharitis.
authors.affiliation: CHU Dupuytren, Limoges.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Adenis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Colin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saint-Blancat
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Malet
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001762:Blepharitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000382:microbiology; D003234:Conjunctivitis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D012294:Rifamycins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D012294:Rifamycins; D002939:Ciprofloxacin