title: Intravenous fleroxacin versus ceftazidime for lower respiratory tract and skin and soft-tissue infections.
abstract: Fleroxacin, a new quinolone antimicrobial agent, was evaluated as part of a multicenter, comparative, open-label, randomized trial with ceftazidime in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections and skin and soft-tissue infections. After written informed consent was obtained, 20 patients were entered at our center. Twelve patients were assigned to the fleroxacin group; 6 in each infection category. Of these 12 patients, 2 with pneumonia and 3 with skin and soft-tissue infection were not clinically evaluable. The mean duration of therapy was 5.7 +/- 3.0 days in the fleroxacin group versus 7.9 +/- 2.0 days in the ceftazidime group. The gram-positive organisms responsible for those infections not evaluable were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and group F streptococcus, all of which were resistant to fleroxacin. In total, 6 gram-positive isolates were resistant to fleroxacin. All but 2 S aureus isolates were susceptible to ceftazidime. Adverse reactions in both groups were negligible. Fleroxacin was found to be as effective as ceftazidime against a variety of gram-negative pathogens, but local susceptibility patterns for quinolones should be checked before empiric use of fleroxacin against gram-positive pathogens such as streptococci.
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Disease, Edward Hines, Jr. Hospital, Hines, Illinois.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Huston
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lentino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D002442:Ceftazidime / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016576:Fleroxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002442:Ceftazidime; D016576:Fleroxacin