Eye antibiotics

Conjunctivitis

Newborn

Chlamydial

  • Doxycycline 100mg PO BID for 7 days OR
  • Azithromycin 1g (20mg/kg) PO one time dose
  • Newborn Treatment: Azithromycin 20mg/kg PO once daily x 3 days or erythromycin PO 50 mg/kg/day in 4 divided doses for 14 days [1]
    • Disease manifests 5 days post-birth to 2 weeks (late onset)

Gonococcal

  • Due to increasing resistance, CDC recommends dual therapy with Ceftriaxone and Azithromycin (even if patient is negative for Chlamydia).
  • Ceftriaxone 250mg IM one dose PLUS
  • Azithromycin 1g PO one dose
  • Newborn Treatment:
    • Prophylaxis: Erythromycin ophthalmic 0.5% x1
    • Disease manifests 1st 5 days post delivery (early onset)
    • Treatment Ceftriaxone 25-50mg IV or IM, max 125mg or cefotaxime single dose of 100 mg/kg (preferred if the patient has hyperbilirubinemia)
    • Also requires evaluation for disseminated disease (meningitis, arthritis, etc.)

Bacterial Conjunctivitis

  • Counsel patient/family on importance of hand hygiene/avoiding touching face to prevent spread!
  • Apply warm or cool compresses (for comfort and cleansing) every 4 hours, followed by instillation of ophthalmic antibiotic solutions

These options do not cover gonococcal or chlamydial infections

  • Polymyxin B/Trimethoprim (Polytrim) 2 drops every 6 hours for 7 days OR
  • Erythromycin applied to the conjunctiva q6hrs for 7 days OR
  • Levofloxacin 0.5% ophthalmic solution 1-2 drops every 2 hours for 2 days THEN every 6 hours for 5 days OR
  • Moxifloxacin 0.5% ophthalmic 1-2 drops every 2 hours for 2 days THEN every 6 hours for 5 days OR
  • Gatifloxacin 0.5% ophthalmic solution 1-2 drops every 2 hours for 2 days THEN 1 drop every 6 hours for 5 days OR
  • Azithromycin 1% ophthalmic solution 1 drop BID for 2 days THEN 1 drop daily for 5 days
  • Chloramphenicol 0.5% ophthalmic solution 1 drop QID for 7 days

NB: levofloxacin is preferred for contact lens wearers for coverage of pseudomonas. Advise not to wear contacts for duration of treatment

Corneal Abrasion

Does Not Wear Contact Lens

Wears Contact Lens

Antibiotics should cover pseudomonas and favor 3rd or 4th generation fluoroquinolones

  • Levofloxacin 0.5% solution 2 drops ever 2 hours for 2 days THEN q6hrs for 5 days OR
  • Moxifloxacin 0.5% solution 2 drops every 2 hours for 2 days THEN q6hrs for 5 days OR
  • Tobramycin 0.3% solution 2 drops q6hrs for 5 days OR
  • Gatifloxacin 0.5% solution 2 drops every 2 hours for 2 days THEN q6hrs for 5 days OR
  • Gentamicin 0.3% solution 2 drops six times for 5 days

Orbital Cellulitis

Vancomycin 15-20mg/kg IV BID + (one of the following)

See Also

Antibiotics by diagnosis

For antibiotics by organism see Microbiology (Main)

References

  1. Zikic A, Schünemann H, Wi T, Lincetto O, Broutet N, Santesso N. Treatment of Neonatal Chlamydial Conjunctivitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2018 Aug 17;7(3):e107-e115. doi: 10.1093/jpids/piy060. PMID: 30007329; PMCID: PMC6097578.