Treatment of TRIC infection of the eye with rifampicin or chloramphenicol.

An open trial was carried out on 63 patients in London to assess the efficacy of 1% rifampicin eye ointment in comparison with 1% chloramphenicol eye ointment in the treatment of sexually transmitted TRIC infection of the eye. Patients included were selected on the basis of positive cultures for Chlamydia trachomatis. Three weeks' treatment with rifampicin eye ointment used 3 times daily was not sufficient to cure the disease, but a 6 or 7 week course gave 90% clinical and microbiological cure rate. Treatment with chloramphenicol eye ointment 3 times daily for 4 to 6 weeks failed to cure the disease.