[Adverse drug reaction and rational use of levofloxacin: a prospective study].
OBJECTIVE
To study the rate of adverse drug reaction(ADR) and the rational use of levofloxacin among in-patients.


METHODS
All in-patients treated with levofloxacin were prospectively observed in 7 hospitals of Beijing.


RESULTS
One hundred and five ADR cases were found in 2,661 patients injected with levofloxacin. The ADR rate was 3.9% while 4.8% of them were classified as severe cases. All severe ADR cases had a nature of double infections. The ADR occurrence was related to older age, irrational drug use, combined medicine and allergic history. The rate of levofloxacin irrational use was 19.9%, especially in the elderly population, due to too long or too short course of treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
Levofloxacin is viewed as a safe injection in clinical practice, however, combined medicine and elderly patients should be paid more attention when on administration of this medication. The irrational use of levofloxacin was recognized as one of the main reasons causing the increase of ADR.
Zhang
Z
Z
School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.
Zhen
J
J
Zhan
S
S
D000328:Adult; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D064704:Levofloxacin; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin