Comparative in vitro activities of three new quinolones and azithromycin against aerobic pathogens causing respiratory tract and abdominal wound infections.
BACKGROUND
In our study the in vitro susceptibility of common pathogens that cause respiratory tract and abdominal wound infections was tested against two newer fluorquinolones (moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin) as well as levofloxacin and azithromycin.


METHODS
50 isolates each of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Haemophilus influenzae isolated from the respiratory tract and from wounds were tested for their susceptibility to moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin, levofloxacin and azithromycin.


RESULTS
Moxifloxacin proved to be the most active substance against the tested gram-positive pathogens. Gatifloxacin was the most active against P. aeruginosa. Moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin proved to be comparably active against the clinical isolates of E. coli and H. influenzae.


CONCLUSIONS
Moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin display excellent activity against respiratory pathogens as well as nosocomial pathogens causing abdominal wound infections. When treating infections caused by P. aeruginosa the earlier fluorquinolones such as ciprofloxacin or ofloxacin are the substances of choice.
Wenzler
Sibylle
S
Institute of Environmental Medicine and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. swenzler@iuk3.ukl.uni-freiburg.de
Schmidt-Eisenlohr
Elke
E
Daschner
Franz
F
D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001372:Aza Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000187:drug effects*; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077734:Gatifloxacin; D006801:Humans; D064704:Levofloxacin; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D000077266:Moxifloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011804:Quinolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D015363:Quinolones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001372:Aza Compounds; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D011804:Quinolines; D015363:Quinolones; D064704:Levofloxacin; D017963:Azithromycin; D015242:Ofloxacin; D000077734:Gatifloxacin; D000077266:Moxifloxacin