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ANTIBIOTIC CHOICE FOR EYE INFECTIONS

First broadcast on www.provet.co.uk  


This information is provided by Provet for educational purposes only.

You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Topical antibiotic preparations suitable for administration on eyes vary in their spectrum of activity

Ophthalmic antibiotics should be selected based upon their spectrum of activity, and preferably following microbiological culture and sensitivity testing. The following table lists some of the common antibiotics and their range of activity :

 
Organism type Antibiotics Comments
Broad spectrum activity - affect gram-positive and gram-negative organisms  Aminoglycosides ( gentamicin, tobramycin and neomycin) -NOT effective against Streptococci.

Tetracycline and Polymyxin B combination.- Some staphylococci and streptococci resistant

Chloramphenicol - Pseudomonas often resistant

Fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and ofloxacin) 

Gentamicin 

Polymyxin B and neomycin and bacitracin

Polymyxin B and neomycin and gramicidin

 

 

Use only as last-line of treatment to prevent resistant strains emerging.

Gram-positives only Cloxacillin

Erythromycin

Fusidic acid

 

The veterinary medicinal Fusidic acid should not be used in conjunctivitis cases associated with Pseudomonas spp

Mycoplasma Erythromycin

Polymyxin B and oxytetracycline

 
Chlamydophila Erythromycin

Polymyxin B and oxytetracycine

Doxycycline (systemically) for at least 6 weeks -treat all in-contact animals

 
     
     

BSAVA Scientific Committee recommend :

Bacterial conjunctivitis:

Topical: cloxacillin OR fusidic acid OR gentamicin.

Suspected Chlamydophila:

Systemic: doxycycline OR enrofloxacin. Topical fusidic acid may be added if desired.

 

Updated January 2016