Bibrocathol

Bibrocathol (Noviform) 5% ointment is a frequently used therapy for blepharitis. The study included 197 patients who were randomized to be treated over 2 weeks with bibrocathol or an ointment vehicle, respectively. Slit lamp examinations were performed on day 1 (baseline) and day 14 (end of study) to assess lid edema, lid erythema, debris, and pouting of Meibomian glands; patients rated their subjective complaints. Bibrocathol was superior to the control treatment in improving the sum score of the 5 scales (by 7.0 vs 4.7 points, p<0.001), especially in patients with primarily severe symptoms (by 8.3 vs 4.8, p<0.0001). Antiseptic therapy with bibrocathol eye ointment 3 times daily over 2 weeks was found to be efficacious in the treatment of acute forms of blepharitis which do not require antibiotic therapy. Bibrocathol treatment is well tolerated and safe.

To evaluate the effect of some antiseptics, which have fewer side effects than antibiotics, an experimental model of bacterial conjunctivitis in vivo was used. This model imitates traumatic Staphylococcus aureus conjunctivitis in the rabbit. At 48 h after infection, polyvinylpyrrolidine (PVP)-iodine, bibrocathol (Noviform, NF), ethacridine (Biseptol, BS) and bacitracin+polymyxin B+neomycin (Polyspectran, PS) were applied. NaCl served as the control. At days 2, 5, 8, 11 and 14 a photographic documentation was done, and a swab was taken every 2nd day. In achieving regression of hyperemia, the substance tested were ranked in the following order: PVP, NF, BS, PS, and NaCl. In the elimination of S. aureus, the ranking order was BS, PVP, PS, NaCl, and NF. The overall ranking was PVP, BS, PS, NF, and NaCl. However, the differences were not significant. In this standardized in vivo model of bacterial conjunctivitis, antiseptics are superior over an antibiotic in accomplishing regression of hyperemia and germ elimination.