gramicidin-a and Conjunctivitis

We studied trimethoprim in combination with sulfacetamide and polymyxin B and also in combination with polymyxin B alone (without the sulfacetamide) to determine the efficacy and safety of these new antibiotic combinations in the eyes of patients with bacterial conjunctivitis or blepharitis. Patients were selected for the study if they showed at least three of the following criteria: (1) symptoms of a surface ocular infection; (2) a purulent discharge; (3) a polymorphonuclear neutrophilic response on Giemsa stain; (4) a history of recent exposure to an infected individual; (5) a history of an inadequately treated surface bacterial infection. Trimethoprim-sulfacetamide-polymyxin B and polymyxin B-neomycin-gramicidin (Neosporin, the control) eliminated bacteria from the eyes of patients with conjunctivitis or blepharitis with equal effectiveness. There was no loss of effectiveness when trimethoprim-polymyxin B was compared with trimethoprim-sulfacetamide-polymyxin B, suggesting that the sulfacetamide was not a necessary component. The combination antibiotic containing trimethoprim and polymyxin B appears to be an effective topical antibiotic solution for the treatment of ocular surface infections.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Blepharitis; Child; Child, Preschool; Clinical Trials as Topic; Conjunctivitis; Double-Blind Method; Drug Combinations; Eyelid Diseases; Gramicidin; Humans; Infant; Middle Aged; Neomycin; Ophthalmic Solutions; Polymyxin B; Polymyxins; Sulfacetamide; Trimethoprim

Two-hundred and thirty patients with a diagnosis of presumptive bacterial conjunctivitis were assessed in a randomized double-blind multicentre trial. In two of the centres the patients had been treated with either trimethoprim-polymyxin B or neomycin-polymyxin B-gramicidin ophthalmic solution. In the other two centres the patients had been treated with either trimethoprim-polymyxin B or chloramphenicol ophthalmic solution. All of the preparations used were shown to be effective and very few adverse reactions were encountered. No significant difference in clinical efficacy could be demonstrated between trimethoprim-polymyxin B and neomycin-polymyxin B -gramicidin but trimethoprim-polymyxin B was found to be significantly better (P = 0.03) than chloramphenicol in reducing signs and symptoms.

Topics: Chloramphenicol; Conjunctivitis; Double-Blind Method; Drug Combinations; Gramicidin; Humans; Neomycin; Ophthalmic Solutions; Polymyxin B; Polymyxins; Trimethoprim

48 patients witha diagnosis of presumptive bacterial conjunctivitis were assessed. They had been treated with either trimethoprim-polymyxin or neomycin-polymyxin-gramicidin eye drops in a randomised double-blind trial. There were 24 patients in each treatment group. There were no significant differences between the two preparations proved with regard to the eradication of organisms or clinical improvement, and both preparations proved to be very effective. Patient compliance was good and no adverse reactions were encountered with either preparation.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Infections; Child; Clinical Trials as Topic; Conjunctivitis; Double-Blind Method; Drug Combinations; Gramicidin; Humans; Middle Aged; Neomycin; Polymyxins; Random Allocation; Trimethoprim

Topics: Administration, Topical; Chloramphenicol; Conjunctivitis; Drug Combinations; Gramicidin; Humans; Neomycin; Ophthalmia Neonatorum; Ophthalmic Solutions; Polymyxins; Silver Nitrate; Sulfonamides; Zinc

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibiotics, Antitubercular; Conjunctivitis; Dermatologic Agents; Gramicidin; Humans; Neomycin; Seasons; Trachoma