Pharmacotherapeutic options for ophthalmic conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is a common eye condition involving inflammation and in some instances infection of the conjunctiva. In the majority of cases it is caused by adenoviruses and, to a lesser extent, bacteria. Conjunctivitis can also occur secondary to Chlamydial and Gonococcal infections and new-born infants can acquire it during the birthing process from infected mothers. Herpes simplex and Herpes zoster are the infective organisms also responsible for conjunctivitis while seasonal pollens are usually the cause for allergic conjunctivitis. Common symptoms and signs are redness, tearing, oedema of the eyelids, sensation of a foreign body and it may be accompanied by itching. Most often a purulent discharge and adherence of eyelids at awakening are indicators of a bacterial infection. Most of the uncomplicated acute cases are self-limiting. There is however a challenge in distinguishing between the various types of conjunctivitis due to the similarity in the symptoms and due to a lack of tests and prediction algorithms, thus antibiotic therapy is often incorrectly initiated. Treatment of acute uncomplicated conjunctivitis caused by adenoviruses and bacteria is mostly symptomatic. Topical eye drops and ointments are preferred to oral agents in the treatment of more severe bacterial and allergic conjunctivitis while oral agents are used in the treatment of conjunctivitis caused by Herpes simplex, Herpes zoster, Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Treatment of bacterial respiratory infections

Acute respiratory tract infections are one of the most common reasons that result in general practitioner consultations. Viruses are the most common cause of both upper- and lower respiratory tract infections,however pneumonia is usually bacterial in origin.When from a bacterial origin,S.pneumoniae, non-typical H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis are mostly the cause of acute otitis media, acute bacterial rhinosinusitis and acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, while S. pyogenes are usually the presenting organisms in acute pharyngotonsillitis. B. pertussis, C. pneumoniae or M. pneumoniae are common organisms associated with acute bronchitis and community-acquired pneumonia (atypical). Pneumonia is a serious life-threatening condition, and organisms mostly associated with it include S. pneumoniae, S. aureus, H. influenzae type b, K. pneumoniae, Legionella species or P. jirovecii.Common symptoms and signs include coughing, facial pain, fever, nasal congestion, sore throat,dyspnoea,and tachypnoea.Most of the acute uncomplicated respiratory tract infections are self-limiting in nature. It is in many instances a challenge to distinguish between acute bronchitis and pneumonia because of the similarity in presenting symptoms. Antibiotics are in many instances inappropriately prescribed to treat the infections resulting in the burden of antibiotic resistance patterns within the community.Treatment options are usually amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid or the 2nd or 3rd generation cephalosporins