title: A 3-day regimen with azithromycin 1.5% eyedrops for the treatment of purulent bacterial conjunctivitis in children: efficacy on clinical signs and impact on the burden of illness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of azithromycin 1.5% versus tobramycin 0.3% eyedrops on clinical ocular signs and symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis in children and to assess the parents' satisfaction regarding the dosing regimen.
  
  
  METHODS
  An international, multicenter, randomized, investigator-masked, controlled clinical trial conducted in children (1 day to 18 years old) with bulbar conjunctival hyperemia and purulent discharge. Azithromycin 1.5% was administered as 1 drop twice daily for 3 days, and tobramycin 0.3% as 1 drop every 2 hours for 2 days, then 4 times daily for 5 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 286 patients (mean age: 3.2 years) were enrolled. In children with bacteriologically positive cultures (N=203), azithromycin produced a significantly greater improvement in conjunctival discharge (P<0.01) and a trend (P=0.054) toward improvement in conjunctival hyperemia at day 7 than did tobramycin. Complete resolution of conjunctival discharge was significantly more frequent at day 3 on azithromycin than tobramycin (P=0.005). More parents found azithromycin easier to use (in terms of treatment duration, total number of instillations, instilling drops during the day, and difficulty in performing daily activities) than tobramycin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The azithromycin 1.5% regimen produced a rapid resolution of cardinal signs of purulent bacterial conjunctivitis with a more convenient dosage regimen. Such improved convenience is likely to improve compliance and lessen the burden of illness for patients and carers.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Centre St Victor, University Hospital of Amiens, Picardie Jules Verne University, Amiens, France ; CNRS FR3636, Paris V University, France.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bremond-Gignac
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Tahar Sfar University Hospital, Mahdia, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Riadh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Messaoud
authors.affiliation: Dar El Beida, Blida, Algeria.
authors.forename: Sihem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lazreg
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Speeg-Schatz
authors.affiliation: Laboratoires THÉA, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Renault
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, Gabriel Montpied Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand, France ; EA 7281 R2D2, Auvergne University, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiambaretta
keywords: QOL; acceptability; azithromycin; bacterial conjunctivitis; children; compliance; topical antibiotics