A sequential study of intravenous and oral fleroxacin in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infection.
This study enrolled patients with complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in a trial to determine the efficacy and safety of sequential therapy with intravenous fleroxacin (first 3 days) followed by oral fleroxacin, for a total course of 7-14 days, both administered at a dosage of 400 mg once a day. We enrolled 68 patients with complicated UTIs or acute pyelonephritis, 32 of whom were evaluable for bacteriologic and clinical efficacy. The pathogens isolated included Escherichia coli, 15; enterococci, 9; miscellaneous, 15. Intravenous fleroxacin was given for a mean of 3.2 days, followed by oral fleroxacin for a mean of 5.3 days. A total of 27 patients were clinically cured (84%), two improved, and three failed. A total of 26 patients were bacteriologically cured (81%), and six failed (19%). The bacteria that were not eradicated included enterococci, 4; Staphylococcus epidermidis, 1; and Pseudomonas species, 1. One enterococcal isolate became resistant to fleroxacin. Four patients were bacteremic (E. coli, 3; Proteus mirabilis, 1); the pathogen was eradicated in all cases. Two patients developed urinary enterococcal superinfections. A total of 12 patients experienced 16 adverse reactions remotely, possibly, or probably related to fleroxacin (insomnia, 3; dizziness, 2; miscellaneous, 11). One patient had a grand mal seizure after aspirating gastric contents; the seizure was thought to be only remotely related to the study drug. Fleroxacin was discontinued in two patients because of adverse effects (phlebitis at intravenous access site, 1; anxiety and insomnia, 1). Only minor and asymptomatic laboratory abnormalities were observed. All clinical and laboratory abnormalities resolved with discontinuation of the study drug. Fleroxacin is a safe and effective antibiotic for sequential intravenous and oral treatment of acute pyelonephritis and complicated UTIs. Enterococci may be problematic pathogens, as reported with other fluoroquinolones.
Gelfand
M S
MS
Methodist Hospitals of Memphis, Tennessee 38104.
Simmons
B P
BP
Craft
R B
RB
Grogan
J
J
Amarshi
N
N
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D016576:Fleroxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
D016576:Fleroxacin