title: Comparative in vitro potency of gemifloxacin against European respiratory tract pathogens isolated in the Alexander Project.
abstract: European isolates collected in 1998 for the Alexander Project were tested for their susceptibility to ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and a novel fluoroquinolone, gemifloxacin, which has a spectrum of activity including common and atypical respiratory pathogens. MIC90s of gemifloxacin for Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis were 0.03, 0.06 and 0.015 mg/L, respectively. On the basis of MIC90s, gemifloxacin was the most potent antimicrobial tested against S. pneumoniae and M. catarrhalis. Against H. influenzae, gemifloxacin was one tube dilution more potent than ofloxacin and one tube dilution less potent than ciprofloxacin. As resistance to currently available antimicrobial agents increases, gemifloxacin offers potential as a promising new agent for the treatment of respiratory tract infection.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, University of Genoa Medical School, Italy. schitogc@aleph.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marchese
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Debbia
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Schito
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005060:Europe; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D000077735:Gemifloxacin; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D001936:Moraxella catarrhalis / Q000187:drug effects*; D009287:Naphthyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D009287:Naphthyridines; D000077735:Gemifloxacin