Conjunctivitis in children

Antibiotic effects of WP-0405, a thermo-setting ofloxacin gel, on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus keratitis in rabbits

PURPOSE

The chemotherapeutic effects and pharmacokinetics properties of WP-0405 (a thermo-setting in situ 0.3% ofloxacin-containing ophthalmic gel) and ofloxacin (a conventional 0.3% ofloxacin solution) on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) keratitis were compared in a rabbit model.

METHOD

The single-instillation pharmacokinetics of WP-0405 and ofloxacin in the cornea, aqueous humor, conjunctiva, and iris-ciliary body were determined in normal rabbit eyes. To compare the duration of antimicrobial action, WP-0405 or ofloxacin was instilled oncedaily in an early-treatment model of keratitis, and corneas were either removed immediately or 4 or 8 h postinstillation. In another experiment, WP-0405 was instilled two or three times daily to compare its antibiotic efficacy with three-times daily instillation of ofloxacin in the same early-treatment model of keratitis; corneas were then removed after determining the extent of the abscess area. In another experiment, WP-0405 was instilled four or eight times daily to compare its effects with eight-times daily instillation of ofloxacin in a late-treatment model of keratitis, and corneas were removed. The number of viable bacteria in the corneas was determined in all experiments.

RESULTS

Cmax and AUC0- in tissues treated with WP-0405 were 1.5-3.4-fold and 1.8-2.9-fold greater than those treated with ofloxacin, respectively. WP-0405 significantly reduced the number of viable bacteria for up to 8 h after a single instillation. WP-0405 not only significantly reduced the number of viable bacteria, but also the size of the abscess area at the same frequency of instillation. When compared to ofloxacin, WP-0405 exhibited an approximately equivalent antibiotic effect, with fewer administrations.

CONCLUSIONS

As a result of its pharmacokinetics, WP-0405 had a more potent, longer-acting antibiotic effect than did ofloxacin. Furthermore, because of its lower required instillation frequency, which would improve patient compliance, WP-0405 has great potential therapeutic benefits.

Clinical safety of moxifloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.5% (VIGAMOX) in pediatric and nonpediatric patients with bacterial conjunctivitis

Five independent, multicentered, double-masked, parallel, controlled studies were conducted to determine the safety of moxifloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.5% (VIGAMOX) in pediatric and nonpediatric patients with bacterial conjunctivitis. Patients were randomized into one of two treatment groups in each study and received either moxifloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.5% b.i.d. or t.i.d. or a comparator. A total of 1,978 patients (918 pediatric and 1,060 nonpediatric) was evaluable for safety. The most frequent adverse event in the overall safety population was transient ocular discomfort, occurring at an incidence of 2.8%, which was similar to that observed with the vehicle. No treatment-related changes in ocular signs or visual acuity were observed with moxifloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.5%, except for one clinically relevant change in visual acuity. Thus, based upon a review of adverse events and an assessment of ocular parameters, moxifloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.5% formulated without the preservative, benzalkonium chloride, is safe and well tolerated in pediatric (3 days-17 years of age) and nonpediatric (18-93 years) patients with bacterial conjunctivitis.

A comparison of ciprofloxacin and tobramycin in bacterial conjunctivitis in children

A study was conducted to determine the safety and efficacy of topically applied ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solution in a pediatric population experiencing acute bacterial conjunctivitis. Topically applied ciprofloxacin (3 mg/mL) is known to be a safe and effective treatment for adults suffering from bacterial conjunctivitis; however, the safety and effectiveness of this broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone in pediatric patients is not well established. Ciprofloxacin was evaluated in a double-blind, randomized, controlled study of 257 patients ranging from 0 (i.e., less than 1 year) to 12 years of age from 33 geographically diverse medical centers. The children received either 0.3% ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solution (Ciloxan, Alcon Laboratories, Fort Worth, TX) or tobramycin ophthalmic solution (Tobrex, Alcon Laboratories, Fort Worth, TX). Both test medications were administered topically every 2 hours on days 1 and 2 followed by every 4 hours on days 3 through 7. Eyes were cultured prior to enrollment and again on day 7. Treatment efficacy as determined by microbiological culture data and physicians' judgment of overall resolution was similar for the ciprofloxacin and tobramycin groups. Microbiological eradication was observed in 90.1% of the ciprofloxacin group and 84.3% of the tobramycin group (P = 0.29). Physicians judged 87.0% of the ciprofloxacin patients and 89.9% of the tobramycin patients clinically cured on day 7 (P > 0.5). There were no serious adverse medical events attributable to either treatment. This study showed that topically applied ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solution is safe and effective in a pediatric population experiencing acute bacterial conjunctivitis.

Febre purpúrica brasileira, virulência em modelo animal do Haemophilus Aegyptius (H. influenzae biogrupo aegyptius)

Febre Purpúrica Brasileira (FPB) é causada por cepas invasoras de Haemophilus aegyptius (H. influenzae biogrupo aegyptius, Hae). Estas cepas invasoras foram diferenciadas de cepas de Hae associadas apenas a conjuntivites (cepas não invasoras) através de marcadores moleculares específicos. Modelo de ratos recém nascidos depletados de complemento foi aplicado ao estudo de cepas de Hae, associadas e não associadas a FPB, com o objetivo de se caracterizar seus potenciais de virulência. Com dose infectante de 10(5) células, as cepas invasoras causaram bacteriemia em 80-100% dos ratos inoculados,.e a magnitude da bacteriemia variou de 10(2,5±0,49) a > 10(4,69) ufc/ml de sangue. Usando a mesma dose infectante as cepas controles não causaram bacteriemia frequente (0 a 50%) e a magnitude variou de 0 a 10(3,69±0,53) ufc/ml de sangue. As doses infectantes capazes de causar bacteriemia em 50% dos ratos inoculados (DB50%) para as cepas invasoras de Hae variaram de < 10³ a 10(4,2) bactérias, enquanto que para as cepas não invasoras, as DB50% variaram de 10(6,2) a > 10(7,3) bactérias. Imunização passiva com antissoros produzidos com cepas invasoras demonstrou que os ratos foram protegidos das bacteriemias causadas pelas cepas homólogas, mas não da infecção causada pela cepa heteróloga. Comparando a bacteriemia causada pelas cepas de Hae com a bacteriemia causada pelo H. influenzae b, cepa Eagan (Hib), foi demonstrado o maior potencial de invasibilidade de Hib. Este modelo animal demonstrou ser útil para esclarecer o maior potencial de virulência das cepas invasoras de Hae.

Ophthalmia neonatorum caused by Neisseria cinerea

Neisseria cinerea is an organism that has only recently been implicated as a human pathogen. In this case, N. cinerea was identified as the cause of ophthalmia neonatorum (conjunctivitis) in a 2-day-old girl.

Clinico-bacteriological study of neonatal conjunctivitis

Perinatal risk factors and bacteriological profile of conjunctivitis were studied among 245 newborns delivered at JIPMER Hospital between July 1986 and June 1988. Maternal and neonatal factors like lack of antenatal care, presence of adverse intrapartum factors, operative deliveries, birth asphyxia, pre-maturity and prolonged hospital stay significantly increased the chances of developing conjunctivitis (P less than 0.001). Bacteria were recovered from 163 (66.5%) cases. Staphylococcus was the commonest pathogenic bacteria isolated, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Neisseria gonorrhoeae was isolated in only one case. Most of the organisms showed in vitro sensitivity to chloramphenicol, gentamycin and tetracycline. All the cases responded to topical chloramphenicol except three which required systemic antibiotics. No complications were observed. The identification and appropriate management of high risk pregnancies with minimal hospital stay can reduce the incidence of neonatal conjunctivitis.