Erratum

In the article “Red Eye: A Guide for Non-specialists“ published in issue 17 (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2017; 114: 302–12), the use of a chloramphenicol-based antibiotic eye ointment is recommended on page 308 to treat foreign-body events, as described in the standard textbook “Medikamentöse Augentherapie: Grundlagen und Praxis“ (Fechner PU, Thieme Verlag, 2000, p 28). However, aplastic anemia as a rare adverse reaction associated with chloramphenicol treatment is not discussed there. Following systemic administration of chloramphenicol, rare cases of non-dose-related aplastic anemia have been reported. Whether and to what extent this also applies to topical ophthalmic chloramphenicol use has been the subject of scientific debate. Based on the available literature on the ophthalmic use of chloramphenicol, an undisputable recommendation cannot be made. In Germany, chloramphenicol is available as an ophthalmic ointment to treat eye infections in adults and children. While the ophthalmic use of chloramphenicol has effectively been terminated in the United States, chloramphenicol eye drops have remained the standard treatment in the United Kingdom. As alternatives to chloramphenicol, the authors of the article recommend the use of azithromycin eye drops, in exceptional cases of quinolone derivatives, two ophthalmic preparations which are also approved for pediatric use. MWR