Table 2.
Topical antibiotics used to treat bacterial conjunctivitis
| Antibiotic | Class | Coverage | Mechanism | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azithromycin | Macrolide | Broad-spectrum | Baceriostatic | Azasite® 1% (Inspire Pharmaceuticals Inc) |
| Besifloxacin | Fluoroquinolone | Broad-spectrum | Bactericidal | Besivance® 0.6% (Bausch and Lomb) |
| Chloramphenicol | Chloramphenicol | Broad-spectrum | Bacteriostatic | Topical drops not marketed in US Optrex Infected Eyes® 0.5% in UK |
| Ciprofloxacin | Fluoroquinolone | Broad-spectrum | Bactericidal | Ciloxan® 0.3% (Alcon Laboratories Inc) Ointment or drops |
| Fusidic acid | Protein synthesis inhibitor | Primarily Gram-positive | Bacteriostatic | Not available in US Fucithalmic® 1% (Leo Pharma) in Canada and UK |
| Gatifloxacin | Fluoroquinolone | Broad-spectrum | Bactericidal | Zymar 0.3% (Allergan Inc) |
| Gentamicin | Aminoglycoside | Primarily Gram-negative | Bactericidal | Generic 0.3% drops |
| Levofloxacin | Fluoroquinolone | Broad-spectrum | Bactericidal | Iquix® 1.5% (Vistakon Pharmaceuticals) |
| Lomefloxacin | Fluoroquinolone | Broad-spectrum | Bactericidal | Not available in US |
| Moxifloxacin | Fluoroquinolone | Broad-spectrum | Bactericidal | Vigamox® 0.5% (Alcon Laboratories Inc) |
| Neomycin-polymyxin B-gramicidin | Aminoglycoside, polymyxin and gramicidin | Broad-spectrum | Bactericidal | Neosporin® (King Pharmaceuticals Inc) |
| Netilmicin | Aminoglycoside | Primarily Gram-negative | Bactericidal | Not available in US |
| Norfloxacin | Fluoroquinolone | Broad-spectrum | Bactericidal | Chibroxin 0.3% (Merck and Co Inc) Not available in US |
| Ofloxacin | Fluoroquinolone | Broad-spectrum | Bactericidal | Generic 0.3% eye drops |
| Providone-iodine | Broad-spectrum | Bactericidal | Betadine 5% (Alcon Laboratories Inc) | |
| Rifamycin | Rifamycin | Broad-spectrum | Bactericidal | Not available in US |
| Tobramycin | Aminoglycoside | Primarily Gram-negative | Bactericidal | Tobrex® 0.3% (Alcon Laboratories Inc) ointment or drops |