Azithromycin proving its worth

Azithromycin is just as effective and safe as tobramycin for the treatment of purulent bacterial conjunctivitis, according to a report published in the April issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Isabelle Cochereau from CHU d'Angers, France and colleagues from Tunisia, Morocco, Romania and India conducted a multicentre, randomized, investigator-masked study, which included 1,043 children and adults with purulent bacterial conjunctivits. Patients were randomized to receive either azithromycin 1.5% twice-daily for three days or tobramycin 0.3%, one drop every two hours for two days and then four times daily for five days. Clinical signs were evaluated and cultures obtained at baseline and three and nine days following the commencement of treatment.

Among 471 patients with baseline positivity, 87.8% of the azithromycin group and 89.4% of the tobramycin group were clinically cured by the final examination. Clinical cure was, however, significantly higher with azithromycin at day three.

It was concluded that azithromycin is just as effective as tobramycin for treating purulent bacterial conjunctivitis. Additionally, it only requires a twice-daily dosing regimen, which should help increase patient compliance.