Management strategies for acute infective conjunctivitis in primary care: a systematic review.
A systematic review of the literature on all aspects of the management of acute infective conjunctivitis is undertaken. Acute infective conjunctivitis is a common presentation in primary healthcare. It is usually a mild condition and serious complications are rare. Clinical signs are a poor discriminator of bacterial and viral causes. Studies of treatment show that there is a high rate of clinical cure without any treatment (65% within 2-5 days). Treatment with topical antibiotics improves the rate of clinical recovery and this is more marked in the first 2-5 days after presentation (number needed to treat [NNT] = 6), but less by 6-10 days (NNT = 13). Studies comparing treatment with different antibiotics do not demonstrate that any one antibiotic is superior; the choice of antibiotic should be based on consideration of cost and bacterial resistance. The present practice of prescribing antibiotics to most cases is not necessary.
Rose
Peter
P
University of Oxford, Department of Primary Healthcare, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford, UK. peter.rose@dphpc.ox.ac.uk
D000208:Acute Disease; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003234:Conjunctivitis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission; D003236:Conjunctivitis, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D011320:Primary Health Care; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents