Bacterial conjunctivitis is a common type of pink eye, caused by bacteria that infect the eye through various sources of contamination. Eye drops and eye ointments along with bacterial conjunctivitis drugs such as Bleph (sulfacetamide sodium), Moxeza (moxifloxacin), Zymar (gatifloxacin), Romycin (erythromycin), Polytrim (polymyxin/trimethoprim), Ak-Tracin, Bacticin (bacitracin), AK-Poly-Bac, Ocumycin, Polycin-B, Polytracin can provide relief for symptoms. However, they cannot cure the infection that causes these symptoms. This is why it's important to get an accurate diagnosis of the condition before using any type of treatment. And when bacterial conjunctivitis is responsible, a reliable test to confirm it is to be had.
The basic test for bacterial conjunctivitis is called the AVR or visual field test. The doctor will have you look at your cornea through a special optical device called an ophthalmoscope. One red eye and one normal color is all that is required. For this test, one drop of azithromycin ointment will be sufficient. Another way to confirm the presence of bacterial conjunctivitis is to perform a blood test. One drop of a solution of Bacitracin or fluconazole is just sufficient. Thickening of the ointment is a good indication of bacterial contamination. A dark red ointment is another indicator. All three tests are done on an individual basis.
Of all the bacterial conjunctivitis drugs, those made with Methylsulfonylmethane (also known as galactic acid) are the best. These products are readily available in drugstores and are relatively inexpensive. A few brands available in the US include, Aclorix, Advion, and Benadryl. The reason why they work so well is because of the low concentration of sulfamethoxazole (the active ingredient). The other ingredients merely act as additives.
Bacterial conjunctivitis can be difficult to treat and is often accompanied by severe red eye and itching, although there are cases where both are absent. Since it affects the eye, an ophthalmology expert must be consulted to determine the cause. Bacterial conjunctivitis drugs also include topical antibiotics and systemic antibiotics. Topical antibiotics are given topically and are given to individuals who experience red eye or itching. They do not enter the blood stream and therefore do not carry any antibiotic resistance patterns in the organism.
Systemic antibiotics are usually administered orally or by mouth. These antibiotics, also available generically, must pass through the digestive tract before being absorbed into the bloodstream. Thus, they may lead to unpleasant side effects like nausea and diarrhea. A broad-spectrum antibiotic is one that is effective against all bacteria and is highly recommended for use in case of bacterial conjunctivitis, since it is able to eliminate all strains. Moxifloxacin and aminoglycosides can provide long-term relief from bacterial conjunctivitis, especially when used in combination. Moxifloxacin works by reducing the ability of odor producers to stick to cell membranes. It decreases the permeability of membranes by preventing bacterial membranes from leaking chemicals or toxins into the adjacent tissues. Moxifloxacin is particularly useful for cases such as contact lens infections, allergic conjunctives, and acute keratitis, while aminoglycosides are useful for patients with diabetes and kidney disease. Azathioprine and mercaptopurine are the most commonly prescribed systemic antibiotics in conjunctivitis treatment. In cases of systemic failure, bacterial conjunctivitis drugs such as sulfasalazine, methotrexate, and heparin may also be prescribed.
Clinical studies have revealed that systemic tobramycin is effective in the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis and acute stomatitis. Although the clinical trials did not directly correlate the levels of tobramycin with the severity of the symptoms, the drug significantly improved both subjective and objective scores on the EKG and blood test results. Similarly, in a study involving patients with chronic stomatitis, long-term therapy with fluconazole showed significant improvement. The efficiency of long-term topical treatment was associated with the level of resistance of the patient's immune system to tobramycin. Thus, it was concluded that the efficacy of tobramycin for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis depends on the degree of resistance of the host organism to the drug.
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