title: Topical lomefloxacin twice daily compared with fucidic acid in acute bacterial conjunctivitis.
abstract: Forty-five patients with presumed acute bacterial conjunctivitis were treated in an investigator-masked randomized multicenter study with either lomefloxacin 0.3% or fucidic acid 1% eye drops twice daily. Clinical signs and symptoms were rated by slit-lamp examination and conjunctival swab cultures were performed to evaluate clinical and microbiological efficacy. A total of 57 ocular isolates were tested for susceptibility to nine antibiotics. A significant decrease in clinical symptomatology was achieved by both treatments with a gradual improvement over the treatment period of 7-9 days. Bacteriological recovery was frequently achieved already at the first control visit (day 3-5), but the recovery rate was statistically significant (p = 0.014) only in the lomefloxacin group. The relatively high in vitro resistance rate (46%) to fucidic acid was not reflected by lower clinical efficacy. Two unrelated adverse events (one in each treatment group) and minimal local intolerance problems were observed in both treatment groups. A significantly higher incidence of burning sensation was observed with fucidic acid than with lomefloxacin (p < 0.01). All four treatment failures in the study occurred in the fucidic acid group. Lomefloxacin 0.3% ophthalmic solution demonstrated a high efficacy and good tolerance in the management of acute bacterial conjunctivitis.
authors.affiliation: Tampere University, Finland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Malminiemi
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kari
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Latvala
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Voutilainen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miettinen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jauch
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000382:microbiology; D003234:Conjunctivitis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004351:Drug Resistance; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D005672:Fusidic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D015363:Quinolones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D015363:Quinolones; D005672:Fusidic Acid; C053091:lomefloxacin