Treatment of trachoma (by preference use oral azithromycin for this indication)
Prevention of neonatal conjunctivitis
Forms and strengths
1% ointment, tube
Dosage and duration
Wash the eyes with boiled and cooled water before each application. Use sterile sodium chloride 0.9% for newborns.
Apply tetracycline 1% into the conjunctival sac of both eyes:
Conjunctivitis: one application 2 times daily for 7 days
Trachoma: one application 2 times daily for 6 weeks
Prevention of neonatal conjunctivitis: one single application immediately after birth.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
Do not use in patients with hypersensitivity to tetracyclines.
May cause allergic reactions; stop treatment in the event of serious reaction.
Remarks
Neonatal conjunctivitis must be treated with systemic antibiotic therapy. When it is not immediately available, apply tetracycline eye ointment to both eyes every hour until systemic treatment is available.
Oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline are used in the same way as tetracycline.
In the event of eye infection, use only eye ointment; dermal ointment must never be applied to the eyes.