Acanthamoeba keratitis

Active Ingredient: Polihexanide

Indication for Polihexanide

Population group: only adolescents (12 years - 18 years old) , adults (18 years old or older)

Therapeutic intent: Curative procedure

Polihexanide is indicated for the treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis in adults and children from 12 years of age.

For this indication, competent medicine agencies globally authorize below treatments:

0.025 mg of polihexanide in the affected eye according to the regimen of the intensive 19-day treatment phase and, thereafter, the continuation treatment phase

For:

Dosage regimens

Ophthalmic, 0.025 milligrams polihexanide, once hourly, 16 doses in total, over the duration of 5 days. Afterwards, ophthalmic, 0.025 milligrams polihexanide, once every 2 hours, 8 doses in total, over the duration of 7 days. Afterwards, ophthalmic, 0.025 milligrams polihexanide, once every 3 hours, 6 doses in total, over the duration of 7 days. Afterwards, ophthalmic, 0.025 milligrams polihexanide, once every 4 hours, 4 doses in total.

Detailed description

Polihexanide should be started as early as possible in the course of Acanthamoeba infection.

Adults and children from 12 years of age

The recommended dose is 0.025 mg of polihexanide in the affected eye according to the following regimen:

Intensive 19-day treatment phase:

16 times a day at 1-hour intervals, daytime only, for five days
8 times a day at 2-hour intervals, daytime only, for further seven days
6 times a day at 3-hour intervals, daytime only, for further seven days

Continuation treatment phase:

4 times a day at 4-hour intervals, until cure (i.e. corneal healing, absence of corneal inflammation or no evidence of infection) and for no longer than 12 months.

Reinitiation of intensive treatment

The 19-day intensive regimen phase may be reinitiated if a deterioration (or exacerbation) of ocular inflammation occurs during the continuation treatment phase and Acanthamoeba culture is negative. Treatment with polihexanide should be stopped if deterioration is accompanied by a positive culture.

Discontinuation of treatment

Polihexanide should be discontinued in patients with failure to achieve cure within 12 months of treatment start.

Dosage considerations

Patients should be instructed to instil polihexanide at least 5 minutes after any other ophthalmic product.

Active ingredient

Polihexanide
Polihexanide acts on both the active trophozoite and dormant cystal forms of Acanthamoeba. Polihexanide is a polycationic polymer composed of hexamethylene biguanide units and has a dual-targeted mechanism of action that involves disruption of Acanthamoeba cell membranes and DNA binding. Read more about Polihexanide

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