Topical chloramphenicol usage in Australia pre- and post-rescheduling as a non-prescription medication – Supplementary Material

Abstract

Chloramphenicol is the most commonly prescribed topical antibiotic in Australia. For the first time, we quantify the prescribing and dispensing rates for topical chloramphenicol before and after the rescheduling of chloramphenicol as a Schedule 3 (Pharmacist Only Medication, not requiring a written prescription, for ophthalmic use only) medication in Australia for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis (BC). We take into consideration other ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic uses for topical chloramphenicol in order to make valid comparisons between the pre- and post-rescheduling dispensing rates for BC alone. Per capita dispensing rates for topical chloramphenicol for BC before and after rescheduling appear to be in excess of any estimated incidence of BC, with a significant rise in the number of units of chloramphenicol dispensed per capita for BC subsequent to rescheduling. Topical chloramphenicol prescribing for BC both pre- and post-rescheduling suggests that treatment guidelines and referral paradigms for anterior ocular pathology in Australia should be reviewed. Show more