Efficacy and safety of azithromycin 1.5% eye drops in paediatric population with purulent bacterial conjunctivitis

Effective Treatment of Haemophilus influenzae-Induced Bacterial Conjunctivitis by a Bioadhesive Nanoparticle Reticulate Structure

Ocular formulations should provide an effective antibiotic concentration at the site of infection to treat bacterial eye infections. However, tears and frequent blinking accelerate the drug clearance rate and limit drug residence time on the ocular surface. This study describes a biological adhesion reticulate structure (BNP/CA-PEG) consisting of antibiotic-loaded bioadhesion nanoparticles (BNP/CA), with an average 500-600 nm diameter, and eight-arm NH₂-PEG-NH₂ for local and extended ocular drug delivery. This retention-prolonging effect is a function of the Schiff base reaction between groups on the surface of BNP and amidogen on PEG. BNP/CA-PEG showed significantly higher adhesion properties and better treatment efficacy in an ocular rat model with conjunctivitis in comparison to non-adhesive nanoparticles, BNP, or free antibiotics. Both in vivo safety experiment and in vitro cytotoxicity test verified the biocompatibility and biosafety of the biological adhesion reticulate structure, indicating a promising translational prospect for further clinical use.

Antibiotics versus placebo for acute bacterial conjunctivitis

BACKGROUND

Acute bacterial conjunctivitis is an infection of the conjunctiva and is one of the most common ocular disorders in primary care. Antibiotics are generally prescribed on the basis that they may speed recovery, reduce persistence, and prevent keratitis. However, many cases of acute bacterial conjunctivitis are self-limited, resolving without antibiotic therapy. This Cochrane Review was first published in The Cochrane Library in 1999, then updated in 2006, 2012, and 2022.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the benefits and side effects of antibiotic therapy in the management of acute bacterial conjunctivitis.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched CENTRAL (which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group Trials Register) (The Cochrane Library 2022, Issue 5), MEDLINE (January 1950 to May 2022), Embase (January 1980 to May 2022), the metaRegister of Controlled Trials (mRCT) (www.controlled-trials.com), ClinicalTrials.gov (www.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov), and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) (www.who.int/ictrp/search/en). We did not use any date or language restrictions in the electronic searches for trials. We last searched the electronic databases in May 2022.   SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which any form of antibiotic treatment, with or without steroid, had been compared with placebo/vehicle in the management of acute bacterial conjunctivitis. This included topical and systemic antibiotic treatments.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors independently reviewed the titles and abstracts of identified studies. We assessed the full text of all potentially relevant studies and determined the included RCTs, which were further assessed for risk of bias using Cochrane methodology. We performed data extraction in a standardized manner and conducted random-effects meta-analyses using RevMan Web.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 21 eligible RCTs, 10 of which were newly identified in this update. A total of 8805 participants were randomized. All treatments were topical in the form of drops or ointment. The trials were heterogeneous in terms of their eligibility criteria, the nature of the intervention (antibiotic drug class, which included fluoroquinolones [FQs] and non-FQs; dosage frequency; duration of treatment), the outcomes assessed and the time points of assessment. We judged one trial to be of high risk of bias, four as low risk of bias, and the others as raising some concerns. Based on intention-to-treat (ITT) population, antibiotics likely improved clinical cure (resolution of clinical symptoms or signs) by 26% (RR 1.26, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.46; 5 trials, 1474 participants; moderate certainty) as compared with placebo. Subgroup analysis showed no differences by antibiotic class (P = 0.67) or treatment duration (P = 0.60). In the placebo group, 55.5% (408/735) of participants had spontaneous clinical resolution by days 4 to 9 versus 68.2% (504/739) of participants treated with an antibiotic. Based on modified ITT population, in which participants were analyzed after randomization on the basis of positive microbiological culture, antibiotics likely increased microbiological cure (RR 1.53, 95% CI 1.34 to 1.74; 10 trials, 2827 participants) compared with placebo at the end of therapy; there were no subgroup differences by drug class (P = 0.60). No study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of antibiotic treatment. Patients receiving antibiotics had a lower risk of treatment incompletion than those in the placebo group (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.78; 13 trials, 5573 participants; moderate certainty) and were 27% less likely to have persistent clinical infection (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.81; 19 trials, 5280 participants; moderate certainty). There was no evidence of serious systemic side effects reported in either the antibiotic or placebo group (very low certainty). When compared with placebo, FQs (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.90) but not non-FQs (RR 4.05, 95% CI 1.36 to 12.00) may result in fewer participants with ocular side effects. However, the estimated effects were of very low certainty.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this update suggest that the use of topical antibiotics is associated with a modestly improved chance of resolution in comparison to the use of placebo. Since no evidence of serious side effects was reported, use of antibiotics may therefore be considered to achieve better clinical and microbiologic efficacy than placebo. Increasing the proportion of participants with clinical cure or increasing the speed of recovery or both are important for individual return to work or school, allowing people to regain quality of life. Future studies may examine antiseptic treatments with topical antibiotics for reasons of cost and growing antibiotic resistance.

Corynebacterium macginleyi in the era of MALDI-TOF MS: epidemiology, susceptibility patterns and prevalence of co-infection

Corynebacterium macginleyi has long been associated with ocular infections and has more recently been rarely implicated in systemic infections. There is a paucity of literature regarding the rate of C. macginleyi co-infection with other bacterial and viral pathogens and regarding the incidence of C. macginleyi infection in the paediatric population. In this study, we report 30 isolates of C. macginleyi of ocular origin from 26 patients, identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The rates of co-isolation with bacterial and viral pathogens were 62% (n=16/26) and 39% (n=5/13), respectively, in this study. Of these, 13 patients had molecular testing performed as requested by treating clinicians for either the Chlamydia trachomatis/Neisseria gonorrhoeae PCR or herpes/enterovirus/adenovirus multiplex PCR. All isolates tested susceptible to linezolid, vancomycin and ciprofloxacin, with variable resistance to tetracycline, clindamycin and penicillin using EUCAST breakpoints.

Effectiveness and safety of azithromycin 1.5% eye drops for mass treatment of active trachoma in a highly endemic district in Cameroon

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of azithromycin 1.5% eye drops under field conditions to reduce active trachoma in a highly endemic district in Cameroon. This is a follow-up of an initial report published in 2010.

Methods and analysis

Three annual campaigns were performed in 2008, 2009 and 2010 to treat the population (~1 20 000 individuals) of the Kolofata Health District with topical azithromycin 1.5% (one drop in each eye, morning and evening for three consecutive days). The effectiveness of this intervention against active trachoma was assessed in children aged 1–9 years in cross-sectional studies prior to each mass treatment using a systematic sampling procedure (in 2008, 2009 and 2010) and then 1 year (2011) and 3 years (2013) after the last intervention among the villages with previously high active trachoma prevalence or never tested.

Results

The prevalence of trachomatous inflammation—follicular (TF) dropped from 24.0% (95% CI 20.7 to 27.5) before treatment to 2.8% (95% CI 2.2 to 3.7) 1 year after completion of the 3 year campaign. Trachomatous inflammation—intense was present in only 4 (0.2%) children 1 year after the third round of treatment. Three years after the last campaign, the surveillance survey among the most prevalent villages and villages never tested before showed a prevalence of 5.2% (95% CI 3.6 to 7.2) of active trachoma. Tolerance was excellent, with no report of treatment interruption, serious ocular or systemic adverse events.

Conclusion

Annual mass treatment with azithromycin eye drops was shown to be effective in reducing TF to a level ≤5% one year after a 3-round annual mass treatment in an endemic region at the district level.

Efficacy of azithromycin 1% and 1.5% ophthalmic solutions compared to tobramycin 0.3% eye drops: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:

Azithromycin 1% and 1.5% ophthalmic preparations are used widely in clinical practice for the treatment of signs and symptoms of eye diseases. The aim of this study was to render conclusive evidence by comparing the efficacy of azithromycin 1% and 1.5% over tobramycin 0.3% ophthalmic solutions for the treatment of eye diseases in a short duration in terms of bacterial resolution, the cure rate, and resolving clinical sign and symptoms.

Methods:

Systematic searches were performed in the electronic database (MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, CINAHL, Scopus, PubMed, ProQuest, and Web of Science) and other sources. Multicenter randomized controlled trial studies conducted in English were identified and screened. Analysis of individual studies was conducted using the OpenMeta-analyst and Review Manager Version 5.3 software.

Results:

Eleven studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. In clinical cure rate, azithromycin 1% and 1.5% eye drops were more effective than tobramycin 0.3% eye drops in short duration dosing (⩽5 days) with a twice-a-day regimen (relative risk = 1.13; 95% confidence interval: 1.008, 1.28), whereas on increased duration (>5 days), azithromycin is almost similarly as effective as tobramycin (relative risk = 1.007; 95% confidence interval: 0.96, 1.05). There was no significant difference in efficacy of bacterial resolution of azithromycin (1%, 1.5%) eye drops compared to tobramycin (0.3%) eye drops (relative risk = 0.99; 95% confidence interval: 0.96, 1.018). Azithromycin eye drops are effective in improving the signs and symptoms of eye disease.

Conclusion:

Azithromycin 1% or 1.5% is more effective in the clinical cure rate of eye disease than tobramycin 0.3% eye drops in ⩽5 days of treatment. It is also the best choice of treatment for improving the signs and symptoms of eye disease. So that we recommend clinicians to use azithromycin 1% or 1.5% eye drops.

Systematic Review Registration:

PROSPERO 2019 CRD42019139911

Acute allergic reaction caused by topical azithromycin eye drops: A report of two cases

Azithromycin 1.5% ophthalmic solution (Azyter®, Thea Pharmaceuticals, Newcastle, UK) is an effective and well-tolerated option for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis and blepharitis, and has the advantage of a shorter treatment duration than other topical antibiotics. No acute allergic reaction has yet been reported in response to topical azithromycin eye drops. Here, we report two cases with unusual acute-type allergic reaction to topical azithromycin eye drops. A 63-year-old female patient and 67-year-old male patient treated for blepharitis with topical azithromycin 1.5% eye drops presented with epiphora, eyelid edema, chemosis, conjunctival injection, hyperemia, intensive papillary reaction, and rhinitis within 30 min of instillation. Upon cessation of the topical medication and administration of antiallergic therapy, both patients immediately showed dramatic improvement. Acute-type allergic reaction to topical azithromycin eye drops may be a rare side effect, but ophthalmologists should keep this possibility in mind and inform the patients about its potential occurrence.

An eye for azithromycin: review of the literature

Azithromycin is used widely in clinical practice and recently it is available in topical solution for ophthalmic use. The purpose of the current publication is to summarize the newest information on azithromycin’s clinical usefulness over ocular diseases. A PubMed (National Library of Medicine) and a ScienceDirect search was conducted using the key phrases ‘azithromycin’, ‘meibomian’, ‘blepharitis’, ‘trachoma’, ‘toxoplasmosis’ from 2010 to 2017. Articles were limited to articles published in English or at least having an English abstract. There were no restrictions on age, ethnicity, or geographic locations of patients. Topical azithromycin was found effective and safe in various ocular surface infections, in meibomian gland dysfunction and in trachoma. Also, it may substitute fluoroquinolones in corneal UV cross-linking. The World Health Organization targets for trachoma elimination are being reached only after 3 years of annual mass drug administration. Oral azithromycin can participate in combination regiments for toxoplasmosis, mainly because of its very good safety profile and may play a significant role in toxoplasmosis in pregnancy. Azithromycin is one of the safest antibiotics, well tolerated, and with special pharmacokinetic properties. Also, it is characterized by a broad antimicrobial spectrum. Azithromycin is efficacious for the treatment of a lot of ocular diseases and may be included as monotherapy or in combination therapy in new treatment protocols for more ocular infections. However, more research is needed to determine this.

Pediatric ocular nanomedicines: Challenges and opportunities

The eye is a highly complex, yet readily accessible organ within the human body. As such, the eye is an appealing candidate target for a vast array of drug therapies. Despite advances in ocular drug therapy research, the focus on pediatric ocular drug delivery continues to be highly underrepresented due to the limited number of degenerative ocular diseases with childhood onset. In this review, we explore more deeply the reasons underlying the disparity between ocular therapies available for children and for adults by highlighting diseases that most commonly afflict children (with focus on the anterior eye) and existing prognoses, recent developments in ocular drug delivery systems and nanomedicines for children, and barriers to use for pediatric patients.

Besifloxacin Ophthalmic Suspension 0.6% Compared with Gatifloxacin Ophthalmic Solution 0.3% for the Treatment of Bacterial Conjunctivitis in Neonates

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of topical besifloxacin ophthalmic suspension 0.6% compared with gatifloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.3% in the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis in neonates.

Methods

This was a multicenter, randomized, double-masked, parallel group study. Subjects ≤31 days of age with severity grade ≥1 (scale 0–3) for both conjunctival discharge and conjunctival hyperemia were randomized to besifloxacin or gatifloxacin instilled three times daily for 7 days, and completed five study visits (three clinic visits and two phone calls). Primary endpoints included clinical resolution (absence of both conjunctival discharge and conjunctival hyperemia) at visit 5 (day 8 or 9) and ocular and non-ocular treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs). Bacterial eradication was a secondary endpoint.

Results

Thirty-three subjects were included in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population. All were aged <28 days, with a mean (standard deviation) age of 15.5 days (6.0), and 57.6% were female. Twenty-two subjects had culture-confirmed conjunctivitis in at least one eye (modified ITT [mITT] population), most often with Gram-positive bacteria. Visit 5 clinical resolution and bacterial eradication rates were comparable among besifloxacin- and gatifloxacin-treated study eyes (clinical resolution: 12/16 [75.0%] vs. 12/17 [70.6%] for the ITT population, and 11/13 [84.6%] vs. 7/9 [77.8%] for the mITT population; bacterial eradication: 12/13 [92.3%] vs. 8/9 [88.9%] for the mITT population, respectively). No AEs were reported in the besifloxacin treatment group, and AEs reported in the gatifloxacin group were considered not treatment-related.

Conclusions

In this small study in neonates, both besifloxacin and gatifloxacin appeared effective and safe in the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis. Larger studies are warranted.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylethanol alleviates early brain injury by modulating oxidative stress and Akt and nuclear factor-κB pathways in a rat model of subarachnoid hemorrhage

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylethanol (DOPET) is a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound, present in olive oil and in the wastewater generated during olive oil processing. DOPET has various biological and pharmacological activities, including anticancer, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. This study was designed to determine whether DOPET alleviates early brain injury (EBI) associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) through suppression of oxidative stress and Akt and nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathways. Rats were randomly divided into the following groups: Sham group, SAH group, SAH + vehicle group and SAH + DOPET group. Mortality, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and brain water content were assessed. Oxidative stress, Akt, NF-κB p65 and caspase-3 assays were also performed. DOPET induced a reduction in brain water content, and decreased the BBB permeability of SAH model rats. Furthermore, DOPET effectively controlled oxidative stress, NF-κB p65 and caspase-3 levels, in addition to significantly increasing Akt levels in the cortex following SAH. These results provide evidence that DOPET attenuates apoptosis in a rat SAH model through modulating oxidative stress and Akt and NF-κB signaling pathways.

The antibacterial activity of levofloxacin eye drops against staphylococci using an in vitro pharmacokinetic model in the bulbar conjunctiva

The incidence of fluoroquinolone-resistant staphylococcal isolates from the conjunctival sac is increasing. We compared pharmacological effects of levofloxacin (LVFX) against Staphylococcus epidermidis using an in vitro pharmacokinetic (PK) model simulating the concentration in the bulbar conjunctiva after applying eye drops of 0.5% and 1.5% LVFX. We used S. epidermidis conjunctival sac isolates [minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of LVFX, 0.125 μg/mL]. LVFX-resistant strains were obtained from parental strains after culture with LVFX. The in vitro PK model simulated the concentration in the bulbar conjunctiva following three topical applications of 0.5% or 1.5% LVFX ophthalmic solution (0, 4, and 8 h) to rabbit eyes. Parental and LVFX-resistant strains were exposed to LVFX in the in vitro PK model, and changes in viable bacterial counts were evaluated for 12 h. The MICs of LVFX for the resistant isolates were 2-32 times higher than the parental strain, and those with MICs ≥2 ug/mL had mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining region. The PK model simulation predicts that 1.5% LVFX exerts bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects against strains with MICs of 0.125-2 and 4 μg/mL, respectively, whereas 0.5% LVFX would only be effective against strains with MICs of 0.125-1 μg/mL. The PK model predicts that the 1.5% LVFX ophthalmic solution exhibits a stronger bactericidal effect against resistant staphylococci in the bulbar conjunctiva than the 0.5% LVFX ophthalmic solution.

A 3-day regimen with azithromycin 1.5% eyedrops for the treatment of purulent bacterial conjunctivitis in children: efficacy on clinical signs and impact on the burden of illness

PURPOSE

To compare the efficacy of azithromycin 1.5% versus tobramycin 0.3% eyedrops on clinical ocular signs and symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis in children and to assess the parents' satisfaction regarding the dosing regimen.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

An international, multicenter, randomized, investigator-masked, controlled clinical trial conducted in children (1 day to 18 years old) with bulbar conjunctival hyperemia and purulent discharge. Azithromycin 1.5% was administered as 1 drop twice daily for 3 days, and tobramycin 0.3% as 1 drop every 2 hours for 2 days, then 4 times daily for 5 days.

RESULTS

A total of 286 patients (mean age: 3.2 years) were enrolled. In children with bacteriologically positive cultures (N=203), azithromycin produced a significantly greater improvement in conjunctival discharge (P<0.01) and a trend (P=0.054) toward improvement in conjunctival hyperemia at day 7 than did tobramycin. Complete resolution of conjunctival discharge was significantly more frequent at day 3 on azithromycin than tobramycin (P=0.005). More parents found azithromycin easier to use (in terms of treatment duration, total number of instillations, instilling drops during the day, and difficulty in performing daily activities) than tobramycin.

CONCLUSION

The azithromycin 1.5% regimen produced a rapid resolution of cardinal signs of purulent bacterial conjunctivitis with a more convenient dosage regimen. Such improved convenience is likely to improve compliance and lessen the burden of illness for patients and carers.