title: Moxifloxacin versus cephalexin in the treatment of uncomplicated skin infections.
abstract: The efficacy and safety of oral moxifloxacin (400 mg once daily, 7 days) versus cephalexin (500 mg three times daily, 7 days) were compared in a prospective, multicentre, randomised, double-blind trial in 401 adults with uncomplicated skin infections. Clinical outcome was evaluated in 351 patients. Moxifloxacin proved to be as effective as cephalexin both clinically (90% versus 91%, respectively) and bacteriologically in eradicating the most frequently isolated pathogen Staphylococcus aureus (92% and 93%, respectively). Moxifloxacin was more effective than cephalexin in eliminating Streptococcus spp. (90% and 82%, respectively). Drug-related adverse events were comparable in both treatment groups with the most frequently reported being nausea in the moxifloxacin-treated patients and headache in the cephalexin-treated patients. Medication was discontinued due to unwanted reactions in 3% of the moxifloxacin- and 4% of the cephalexin-treated patients. Moxifloxacin, 400 mg once daily for 7 days, is as safe and effective as cephalexin 500 mg three times daily for 7 days in the treatment of uncomplicated skin infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Biology, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Parish
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Routh
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Miskin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fidelholtz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Werschler
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heyd
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Haverstock
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Church
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002506:Cephalexin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D002506:Cephalexin