Topical Lomefloxacin versus Topical Chloramphenicol in the Treatment of Acute Bacterial Conjunctivitis

Summary

We performed a prospective, randomised, investigator-masked and parallel-group study to compare topical lomefloxacin 0.3% instilled twice daily with topical chloramphenicol instilled five times daily in the treatment of acute bacterial conjunctivitis. 191 patients (lomefloxacin 96, chloramphenicol 95) were enrolled in this study with clinically diagnosed acute bacterial conjunctivitis. The two treatment groups were similar at baseline. The treatments were equally effective and significantly (p < 0.001) reduced the Cumulative Sum Score of the clinical signs and symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis. At the end of the trial, there was no difference between the two treatments in the Cumulative Sum Score of signs and symptoms (p = 0.63), and the investigator (p = 0.28) and patients’ (p = 0.50) assessments of the success of therapy. The two drugs were equally well tolerated locally, with no serious systemic or local adverse drug reactions reported in any study patient. Bacteriological confirmation of acute conjunctivitis was possible in 96 patients (lomefloxacin 47, chloramphenicol 49) out of the 191 enrolled. Both treatments significantly (p < 0.001) reduced the conjunctival bacterial colony count score with no difference (p = 0.12) between the two treatment groups. In conclusion, lomefloxacin 0.3% eye drops instilled twice daily were as effective and well tolerated as chloramphenicol 0.5% eye drops instilled 5 times daily in the treatment of acute bacterial conjunctivitis.