Clinical implications of 750 mg, 5-day levofloxacin for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the time to symptom resolution and i.v.-to-p.o. transition in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients treated with 750 mg or 500 mg levofloxacin.


METHODS
A retrospective, subset analysis of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial comparing 750 mg levofloxacin for 5 days to 500 mg levofloxacin for 10 days for the treatment of CAP.


METHODS
A total of 528 CAP patients were included. Baseline symptoms were re-evaluated on Day 3 of therapy, and time to i.v.-to-p.o. transition was recorded for inpatients.


RESULTS
For the overall population, 67.4% of patients receiving 750 mg levofloxacin had resolution of fever by Day 3 of therapy, compared to 54.6% of 500 mg treated patients (P = 0.006). Patients who started on 750 mg levofloxacin i.v. (N = 108) transitioned to p.o. in an average of 2.68 days while those starting on 500 mg i.v. (N = 124) transitioned in 2.95 days (P = 0.144). The median time for i.v.-to-p.o. switch was 2.35 days and 2.75 days for patients receiving 750 mg and 500 mg levofloxacin, respectively (P = 0.098, log rank test). By Day 3 of therapy, 68% of patients receiving the 750 mg dose had transitioned from i.v. to p.o. levofloxacin, compared with 61% of the 500 mg group (P = 0.280). The safety profiles were comparable for the two regimens.


CONCLUSIONS
The 750 mg levofloxacin dose resulted in a greater proportion of patients with resolution of CAP symptoms by Day 3 when compared with 500 mg therapy. Consequently, the 750 mg regimen trended toward more rapid transition to p.o., potentially resulting in lower overall drug costs. Time to switch from i.v. to p.o. was determined by the investigators' discretion rather than a set protocol. Additionally, length of stay data was not collected in this study, which can significantly impact overall healthcare costs. Further research is required to fully understand the economic impact of the 750 mg, 5-day levofloxacin regimen.
File
Thomas M
TM
Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Rootstown, OH, USA.
Milkovich
Gary
G
Tennenberg
Alan M
AM
Xiang
Jim X
JX
Khashab
Mohammed M
MM
Zadeikis
Neringa
N
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D064704:Levofloxacin; D008297:Male; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin