Chloramphenicol is a type of medicine called an antibiotic. Antibiotics are used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Nb. Chloramphenicol eye drops and ointment are also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.chloramphenicol is known as a broadspectrum antibiotic, which means it is effective against conjunctivitis.chloramphenicol works by preventing bacteria from producing proteins that are essential to them. Without these proteins the bacteria cannot grow, replicate and increase in numbers. Chloramphenicol therefore controls the numbers of bacteria causing an infection, and the remaining bacteria die or are killed by the bodys immune system. This treats the infection.chloramphenicol is administered into the eye to treat a type of eye infection called bacterial conjunctivitis, which can be caused by various types of bacteria. Putting the medicine directly into the eye allows the chloramphenicol to act directly on the bacteria that are causing the infection.