Antibiotic therapy of bacterial conjunctivitis – a practical approach

Abstract

The most common cause of ophthalmological consultations in an ophthalmological clinics are conjunctivitis, often caused by bacteria. The main form of its treatment is topical antibiotic therapy. The paper presents the current possibilities of treatment of conjunctivitis, with particular emphasis on the problem of development of the antibiotic resistance and the practical principles of antibiotic therapy. In the light of current knowledge, the best results in the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis are achieved by the use of IV- and then III-generation of fluoroquinolones. These drugs have the best spectrum of action, and additionally, they have a very good penetration into the conjunctiva and are at the lowest risk of developing antibiotic resistance.