Dr. John Sheppard of VEC Provides Expert Insight on Besivance® Antibiotic Resistance

Norfolk, VA, December 18, 2013 --(PR.com)-- BESIVANCE® is a quinolone antimicrobial indicated for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis caused by susceptible isolates of the following bacteria:

* Aerococcus viridans
* CDC coryneform group G, Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum
* Corynebacterium striatum
* Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis
* Moraxella lacunata
* Pseudomonas aeruginosa
* Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus hominis
* Staphylococcus lugdunensis
* Staphylococcus warneri

Dr. John Sheppard also shares some of the important risk information about BESIVANCE®:

• BESIVANCE® is for topical ophthalmic use only, and should not be injected subconjunctivally, nor should it be introduced directly into the anterior chamber of the eye.

• As with other anti-infectives, prolonged use of BESIVANCE® may result in overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms, including fungi. If super-infection occurs, discontinue use and institute alternative therapy.

• Patients should not wear contact lenses if they have signs or symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis or during the course of therapy with BESIVANCE®.

• The most common adverse event reported in 2% of patients treated with BESIVANCE® was conjunctival redness. Other adverse events reported in patients receiving BESIVANCE® occurring in approximately 1-2% of patients included: blurred vision, eye pain, eye irritation, eye pruritus and headache.

• BESIVANCE® is not intended to be administered systemically. Quinolones administered systemically have been associated with hypersensitivity reactions, even following a single dose. Patients should be advised to discontinue use immediately and contact their physician at the first sign of a rash or allergic reaction.

• Safety and effectiveness in infants below one year of age have not been established.

Dr. John Sheppard’s mission is to provide world class specialty eye care by using state of the art technology. Dr. Sheppard joined VEC in 1989 and was named to the faculty at Eastern Virginia Medical School. He serves as the medical school’s ophthalmology program director and clinical director of the Thomas R. Lee Center of Ocular Pharmacology. In addition, he is a member of the EVMS Development Committee.

About the Company
Virginia Eye Consultants was established in 1963 by John W. Dickerson, Norfolk’s first ophthalmic pathologist and oculoplastic surgeon. In 1979 Dr. Bruce I. Bodner joined Dr. Dickerson, adding his corneal specialty expertise to the practice and founding the Lions Eye Bank of Eastern VA.