Can tobramycin treat conjunctivitis?
Yes, tobramycin can be used to treat conjunctivitis [1]. It is a safe and effective way to eradicate bacterial conjunctivitis [2, 3, 4]. Tobramycin is also effective in children [5].
What is tobramycin, and how does it work?
Tobramycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic. It comes from Streptomyces tenebrarius, a bacteria that naturally produces antibiotics [6, 7].
The mechanism of action of tobramycin is blocking ribosomes and stopping protein production in the bacteria [8].
Tobramycin's effective spectrum includes Pseudomonas, numerous bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family, and Staphylococcus aureus [9].
Tobramycin can be utilized in the treatment of blood, skin, bone, joint, abdomen, or urinary infections [10]. Its administration route can be topical, intramuscular, or intravenous [10, 11].
What are the side effects of tobramycin?
Side effects of tobramycin depend on the way it is taken.
The side effects of topical use of tobramycin include:
- eye irritation,
- itching,
- stinging,
- burning,
- swelling,
- and temporary blurred vision [1].
Among the serious adverse effects of tobramycin are ototoxicity (around 0.5% of users) and kidney problems [12].
What is conjunctivitis?
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What can cause conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis can be caused by:
- bacteria,
- viruses,
- allergen [15].
The most common bacterial causes of conjunctivitis include pathogens like:
- Staphylococcus aureus,
- Streptococcus pneumoniae,
- Haemophilus influenzae,
- Streptococcus pneumoniae,
- Staphylococcus epidermidis [16].
However, some irritants can also cause pink eye. For example, it can happen when the eye is in contact with a lens worn too long, smoke, cosmetics, or chlorine from a swimming pool [17, 18].
Can conjunctivitis resolve on its own?
Conjunctivitis often resolves on its own. The exact time the eye returns to a healthy state can vary depending on factors like contact with the cause and the type of the causative agent itself.
For instance, bacterial conjunctivitis can heal within three weeks [19]. Viral infections can take up to 3 weeks to resolve completely without treatment [20].
In the case of bacterial conjunctivitis, the long healing time can be sped up. Antibiotics like tobramycin can resolve pink eye within three days [21].
Also, cases of allergic pink eye can resolve on their own. The healing time of allergic conjunctivitis lasts between 2 and 6 weeks [22].
Are antibiotics always necessary for treating conjunctivitis?
Antibiotics can only be used in the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis. In cases of viral or allergic pink eye, antibiotics are not effective.
Remember that overuse of antibiotics increases the risk of bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
However, even in cases of bacterial conjunctivitis, antibiotics are not always needed, as most cases are self-limiting. It is especially important to remember that nowadays, antibiotics are often overprescribed for bacterial pink eye [23].
Antibiotics are not necessary for the treatment of pink eye. Often, supportive treatment, such as artificial tears and eye bathings, is enough. Supportive therapy should be started when symptoms continue for more than four days. Conjunctivitis has high spontaneous resolution rates. It is possible that the condition will go away within the waiting time to start treatment [24].
Nevertheless, antibiotics are very effective in bacterial conjunctivitis and resolve most infections within three days [21].
When should you see an ophthalmologist for conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis can often be managed with home care or a visit to a primary care physician. However, there are certain situations where it's crucial to see an ophthalmologist for further evaluation and treatment.
Generally, you should see an ophthalmologist when conjunctivitis symptoms last more than ten days [25].
See an eye doctor when you have chronic or recurrent conjunctivitis [25].
Also, you should seek ophthalmological help when the symptoms develop into decreased sight and intense pain in the eye [26]. These symptoms could indicate a serious eye condition.
Additionally, see an ophthalmologist immediately when the symptoms of pink eye are accompanied by severe eye pain and vomiting. Such symptoms suggest a potential acute glaucoma [25].