title: Evaluation of efficacy and safety of ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solution versus chloramphenicol.
abstract: The results of this clinical study demonstrate that ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.3% is as safe and as effective as 0.5% chloramphenicol ophthalmic solution in the treatment of conjunctivitis and blepharitis of bacterial aetiology. Both agents achieved microbiological improvement rates in excess of 90% after 1 week's treatment. On ciprofloxacin 93.5% of patients were judged clinically cured or improved versus 84.6% on chloramphenicol after 1 week. There were no serious adverse affects. One patient in each group suffered drug-related side-effects (chemosis, erythema) which resolved on discontinuation or changing of therapy. Cirpofloxacin is not associated with the rare, but serious, side effect of aplastic anaemia which is associated with chloramphenicol use. On the evidence of this study ciprofloxacin would appear to be an appropriate agent for general use as a topical ophthalmic formulation.
authors.affiliation: Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Power
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Collum
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Easty
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Bloom
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Laidlaw
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Libert
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sangers
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wuokko
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saksela
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001762:Blepharitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003234:Conjunctivitis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D002701:Chloramphenicol