title: Intravenous fleroxacin versus ceftazidime in the treatment of acute nonpneumococcal lower respiratory tract infections.
abstract: Fleroxacin, administered intravenously at a dosage of 400 mg once a day, was compared with ceftazidime, 0.5-2 g three times daily or 1-2 g twice daily, administered for 4-21 days, for treatment of nonpneumococcal lower respiratory tract infections. A total of 319 patients were enrolled and randomized to receive treatment with fleroxacin or ceftazidime in a 2:1 ratio. Of those enrolled, 68 fleroxacin- and 49 ceftazidime-treated patients were included in the efficacy analysis. The most common diagnoses were pneumonia or pneumonitis (47% of the fleroxacin group and 57% of the ceftazidime group) and exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (38% and 33%, respectively). In the fleroxacin group, 59 (88%) of 67 patients were bacteriologic cures, and in the ceftazidime group, 40 (90%) of 49 were bacteriologic cures. It could be concluded with 95% confidence that the bacteriologic outcomes, by infection, for the two groups were equivalent (fleroxacin, 88%; ceftazidime, 90%). The rates of clinical cure were 59 (88%) of 67 for the fleroxacin group and 40 (82%) of 49 in the ceftazidime group, but since the 95% confidence limit around the between-group difference was greater than the stipulated +/- 15%, it could not be concluded that the outcomes were equivalent. The percentage of patients who experienced adverse clinical or laboratory events was similar in the two treatment groups (12% and 13%). The bacteriologic outcomes, by infection, were equivalent for the two treatment groups. Protocol requirements permitting a determination of equivalence of the outcomes for clinical cure were not met, although the rates were similar.
authors.affiliation: Barberton Citizens Hospital, Ohio 44203.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Farkas
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D002442:Ceftazidime / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D016576:Fleroxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002442:Ceftazidime; D016576:Fleroxacin