Treatment of chlamydial conjunctivitis

Abstract

Adult inclusion conjunctivitis and neonatal inclusion conjunctivitis are important infectious diseases commonly encountered by ophthalmologists in industrialized countries. Patients with inclusion conjunctivitis are frequently complicated by genitourinary and epipharyngeal chlamydial infections. Thus, treatment of chlamydial conjunctivitis must include systemic antibiotics and not be limited to topical application of antibiotics to the eye. Effective anti-chlamydial agents include tetracyclines, macrolides, and some of the fluoroquinolones. Prolonged and frequent application of ophthalmic agents is vital for successful treatment of conjunctivitis.