title: Chlorhexidine gluconate 0.02% as adjunct to primary treatment for corneal bacterial ulcers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is common practice to use topical antiseptic formulations prior to specific therapy in superficial infections and injuries, but not in corneal bacterial ulcers. There is accumulating evidence proving chlorhexidine gluconate 0.02%, an antiseptic agent, as an effective treatment for infectious keratitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the safety and efficacy of chlorhexidine gluconate 0.02% as an adjunct therapy for corneal bacterial ulcers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six patients with corneal bacterial ulcers were treated with standard empirical antibiotic treatment. The study group was treated with chlorhexidine gluconate 0.02% while controls received placebo for one week. The patients were followed for at least 1 month.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No allergic or toxic reactions were noted. Although a higher baseline severity of ulcers existed in the study group, no differences were found in final vision, scarring extent, or recovery duration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chlorhexidine gluconate 0.02% may improve the clinical course of corneal ulcers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel. noatal1122@gmail.com
authors.forename: Noa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Geffen
authors.forename: Galia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: Nisha S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Kheradiya
authors.forename: Ehud I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Assia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007322:Instillation, Drug; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine