Coincidentally a friend of mine recently scratched

Coincidentally a friend of mine recently scratched a cornea -- is allergic to fluoroquinolones and penicillin, so was given antibiotic drops that were probably vancomycin. Unlike the Cipro eyedrops, these had a preservative that often causes PAIN in addition to the pain of the corneal scratch. Scratch is now healed but pain is projected to last another day or two.

So when people keep blathering about how an antibiotic won't be approved unless it's better than the current standard of care, remember that not everyone can use the current standard of care -- because they're allergic to it. So an antibiotic that is about as good, or even a bit worse, ought to be able to be approved as an alternative for allergic people.