title: Comparative antistreptococcal activity of two newer fluoroquinolones, levofloxacin and sparfloxacin.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of sparfloxacin, levofloxacin, ofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin against contemporary strains of streptococci. Susceptibility testing of a panel of 300 recent clinical isolates of streptococci (100 each of beta-hemolytic, viridans group, and Streptococcus pneumoniae) using reference broth microdilution methods was performed, and the results were compared. Sparfloxacin was the most active of the four tested fluoroquinolones, inhibiting 99-100% of all isolates at concentrations of < or = 1 microgram/ml, and was two- to eightfold more potent than the three comparative agents. Levofloxacin was also quite active, inhibiting 98-100% of the isolates at concentrations < or = 2 micrograms/ml. Both sparfloxacin and levofloxacin possess an improved spectrum and potency against contemporary strains of streptococci compared to currently available fluoroquinolones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pfaller
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D015363:Quinolones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D015363:Quinolones; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin; C061363:sparfloxacin