Table 3.
Randomized controlled trials comparing different topical antibiotics
| Author | Number of randomized patients | Interventions | Outcome measures | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adenis at al14 | 131 | 0.3% ciprofloxacin versus 0.3% norfloxacin | Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication | No difference between the two antibiotics |
| Adenis et al15 | 41 | 0.3% ciprofloxacin versus 1% rifamycin | Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication | Higher clinical cure rate with ciprofloxacin on day 7 (but below statistical significance: P = 0.061), no difference in microbial cure |
| Bloom et al16 | 464 | Ciprofloxacin versus tobramycin | Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication | No difference between the two antibiotics |
| Bremond-Gignac et al17 | 150 | 1.5% azithromycin versus 0.3% tobramycin | Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication | Greater bacteriologic cure with azithromycin on day 3, no difference in clinical or bacteriologic cure on day 9 |
| Chisari et al18 | 190 | Ciprofloxacin versus norfloxacin | Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication | No difference between the two antibiotics |
| Cochereau et al19 | 1043 | 1.5% azithromycin for 3 days versus 0.3% tobramycin for 7 days | Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication | Higher rate of clinical cure with azithromycin on day 3, no difference in clinical or bacteriologic cure on day 9 |
| Denis et al20 | 1043 | 1.5% azithromycin for 3 days versus 0.3% tobramycin for 7 days | Microbiological resolution | No difference between the two groups |
| Gallenga et al21 | 99 | 0.3% lomefloxacin BID versus 0.3% tobramycin QID | Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication | No difference between the two groups |
| Granet et al22 | 84 eyes of 56 patients | Polymyxin/trimethoprim QID versus 0.5% moxifloxacin TID | Relief of signs and symptoms | Faster clinical resolution with moxifloxacin |
| Gwon23 | 345 | 0.3% ofloxacin versus 0.3% tobramycin | Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication | Similar efficacy between the two treatments, more rapid symptom relief with ofloxacin |
| Isenberg et al24 | 459 total, 124 culture-positive for bacteria | 1.25% povidoneiodine versus neomycin-polymyxin B-gramicidin | Clinical resolution | No difference between povidoneiodine and antibiotic |
| Jackson et al25 | 484 | 1% fusidic acid versus 0.3% tobramycin | Clinical resolution, bacterial eradication, compliance, subjective “convenience” of treatment | No difference between clinical or microbial resolution, higher compliance and convenience with fusidic acid among younger patients |
| Kernt et al26 | 276 | Enhanced-viscosity 0.3% tobramycin BID versus 0.3% tobramycin QID | Clinical resolution | No difference between the two groups |
| Lichtenstein et al11 | 167 | 0.5% levofloxacin versus 0.3% ofloxacin (versus placebo) | Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication | Higher microbial eradication rate with levofloxacin in 2–11-year-old children; no difference between the two antibiotics in other age groups |
| Malminiemi et al27 | 45 | 0.3% lomefloxacin versus 1% fusidic acid | Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication | No difference in clinical recovery but higher rate of bacterial eradication with lomefloxacin after 3–5 days |
| McDonald et al28 | 1161 | 0.6% besifloxacin versus 0.3% moxifloxacin | Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication | No difference between the two groups; higher rate of eye irritation with moxifloxacin |
| Milazzo et al29 | 45 | 0.3% netilmicin versus 0.3% tobramycin | Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication | No difference in clinical resolution, better microbiologic outcome with netilmicin |
| Miller et al30 | 246 | Norfloxacin versus chloramphenicol | Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication | No difference between the two groups |
| Normann et al31 | 456 newborns | 1% fusidic acid versus 0.5% chloramphenicol | Clinical resolution and compliance | No difference in efficacy but better compliance with fusidic acid |
| Papa et al32 | 209 | Netilmicin versus gentamicin | Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication | Greater efficacy rate with netilmicin |
| Power et al33 | ? | 0.3% ciprofloxacin versus 0.5% chloramphenicol | Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication | No difference between the two groups |
| Protzko et al34 | 743 | 1% azithromycin in DuraSite versus 0.3% tobramycin | Safety, clinical resolution and bacterial eradication | Similar safety and efficacy between the two groups |
| Robert et al35 | 1043 | 1.5% azithromycin versus 0.3% tobramycin | Clinical resolution | No difference between the two groups |
| Schwab et al36 | 423 | 0.5% levofloxacin versus 0.3% ofloxacin | Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication | More rapid microbial resolution with levofloxacin, similar clinical resolution |
| Tabbara et al37 | 40 | 0.3% lomefloxacin versus 0.3% ofloxacin | Clinical resolution | No difference between the two groups |
| Zhang et al38 | 132 | 0.3% levofloxacin versus 0.3% ofloxacin | Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication | No difference between the two groups |
Abbreviations: BID, twice daily; TID, three times daily; QID, four times daily.