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


CONCLUSIONS
Treating neonatal conjunctivitis with fucidic acid is easier than with chloramphenicol and is equally effective.
Normann
Erik Kreyberg
EK
Aker University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. erik@normann.no
Bakken
Odd
O
Peltola
Juha
J
Andréasson
Bengt
B
Buhl
Susanne
S
Sigg
Peter
P
Nielsen
Klaus
K
D000208:Acute Disease; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003234:Conjunctivitis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005672:Fusidic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D005672:Fusidic Acid; D002701:Chloramphenicol