Indications
Sulfacetamide sodium ophthalmic solution (Optacid) is used to treat conjunctivitis and other superficial infections of the eye caused by susceptible microorganisms. It is also used as an adjunctive to systemic sulfonamide therapy of trachoma. The organisms covered are Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus (viridans group), Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella species and Enterobacter species. Sulfonamides applied topically don't give adequate coverage against Neisseria species, Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Also, a significant percentage of staphylococcal isolates are completely resistant to sulfa drugs.
⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.
Pharmacology
Sulfacetamide sodium is a sulfonamide, and sulfonamides are bacteriostatic, which means they stop bacteria from multiplying rather than killing them. The spectrum of activity is similar across the whole group. They block the bacterial synthesis of dihydrofolic acid. They do this by competitive inhibition of the enzyme dihydropteroate synthetase, which prevents the pteridine from condensing with aminobenzoic acid. Resistant strains have an altered dihydropteroate synthetase that binds sulfonamides less well, or they produce larger quantities of aminobenzoic acid.
When applied to the eye, sulfonamides are considered active against susceptible strains of these common bacterial eye pathogens: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus (viridans group), Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella species and Enterobacter species.
Applied topically, they don't give adequate coverage against Neisseria species, Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A significant percentage of staphylococcal isolates are completely resistant to sulfa drugs.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Sulfacetamide sodium is Pregnancy Category C. Animal reproduction studies haven't been done with sulfonamide eye preparations. Kernicterus may occur in a newborn when a pregnant woman at term is treated with sulfonamides taken by mouth. There are no adequate and well controlled studies of sulfonamide eye preparations in pregnant women, and nobody knows whether sulfonamides applied to the eye can cause fetal harm when given to a pregnant woman. So this product should be used in pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Nursing mothers: sulfonamides given systemically can cause kernicterus in the infants of breastfeeding women. Because kernicterus can develop in neonates, a decision should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the medicine, taking into account how important the medicine is to the mother.
⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Dosage Reference
⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.