Latest Comments

• Why not allow the local school gardener to dispense Chloramphenicol eye drops? After all he has the same amount of training to diagnose eye conditions as the pharmacist.

  Posted by Dr David Ahmed, Cairns. 3/12/2009 11:30:15 AM

• Good point David. I am an eye specialist (and former GP). This is a bad decision as:

  1. Prior treatment with bacteriostatic eye drops like this interfere with diagnostic tests in patients with infectious keratitis. This is especially true for Pseudomonas infections in the context of contact lens wear.

  2. Pseudomonas is resistant to Chloramphenicol, but patients often improve transiently. But by the time they present to an eye surgeon, those previously on these drops typically have much more advanced (and sight-threatening!) disease.

  3. Chloramphenicol is already abused as a panacea for all kinds of ocular complaints, very few of which are infectious. I regularly see patients on this medication chronically who have toxicity from both the agent, and the preservative (Benzalkonium chloride) which is extremely toxic to the corneal epithelium with prolonged use and in those sensitive to it.

  Remember, the hallmark of good medicine is correct diagnosis!

  Posted by Eye Dr 3/12/2009 3:21:52 PM

• It will be interesting to see if there will be a spike in cases of Aplastic anaemia.

  Posted by GEORGE QUITTNER 3/12/2009 5:08:38 PM

• If Chloramphenicol is already abused, the only possible sources of this abuse are GPs and Ophthalmologists as they are the ones who have had access uptill now.

  The link with aplastic anaemia is not with topical use, so no spike would be expected.

  A basic part of the pharmacists education includes that this is not advised for use in patients are contact lens wearers, either full or patr time.

  Posted by Peter Jackson 14/12/2009 9:52:44 AM

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