Clinical efficacy of topical therapy of conjunctivitis associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae
DOI: 10.32364/2311-7729-2026-26-1-2
T.N. Safonova, G.V. Zaitseva
M.M. Krasnov Research Institute of Eye Diseases, Moscow, Russian Federation
Aim: to evaluate clinical efficacy of topical therapy of conjunctivitis associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
Materials and Methods: a prospective single-center study included 32 patients (64 eyes) with verified mycoplasmal conjunctivitis. Inclusion criteria: chronicity (>2 weeks), papillary hypertrophy, cytological evidence of inflammation. All patients received besifloxacin 0.6% (1 drop 3 times a day) for 7 days. Efficacy was evaluated on Days 3 and 7 according to clinical, cytological, and subjective criteria.
Results: on Day 3, a significant improvement was reported. In particular, hyperemia decreased by ≥50% in 84.4% of patients, and discharge quantity reduced in 78.1% of subjects. Itch disappeared in 68.8% of patients. On Day 7, clinical recovery and significant improvement were reported in 75.0% and 15.6% of patients, respectively. Microbiological remission (i. e., a normal cytogram) was recorded in 78.1% of patients. The subgroup analysis did not reveal significant differences in efficacy depending on age, gender, and clinical characteristics of the patients. Side effects (i. e., transient burning) were reported in 6.3% of patients, and no significant adverse events were noted.
Conclusion: topical therapy with besifloxacin 0.6% demonstrates high clinical and microbiological efficacy in patients with mycoplasmal conjunctivitis, and it is characterized by a rapid onset of action and a favorable safety profile. Thus, the authors recommend it as a first-line therapy for the condition.
Keywords: mycoplasmal conjunctivitis, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, besifloxacin, topical therapy, efficacy.
For citation: Safonova T.N., Zaitseva G.V. Clinical efficacy of topical therapy of conjunctivitis associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Russian Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology. 2026;26(1):–16 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2311-7729-2026-26-1-2
About the authors:
Tatiana N. Safonova — C. Sc. (Med.), Leading Scientific Officer at the Department of Pathology of Lacrimal Apparatus, M.M. Krasnov Research Institute of Eye Diseases; 11A, B, Rossolimo str., Moscow, 119021, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0002-4601-0904
Galina V. Zaitseva — C. Sc. (Med.), Scientific Officer at the Department of Pathology of Lacrimal Apparatus, M.M. Krasnov Research Institute of Eye Diseases; 11A, B, Rossolimo str., Moscow, 119021, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0001-8575-3076
Contact information: Tatiana N. Safonova, e-mail: safotat@mail.ru
Financial Disclosure: no authors have a financial or property interest in any material or method mentioned.
There is no conflict of interest.
Received 15.12.2025.
Revised 12.01.2026.
Accepted 30.01.2026.
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