title: Newer fluoroquinolones for treating respiratory infection: do they mask tuberculosis?
abstract: Possible masking of tuberculosis (TB) in treatment of community-acquired respiratory infection by newer fluoroquinolones has not been examined in randomised controlled trials. We undertook a randomised, open-label controlled trial involving adults with community-acquired pneumonia or infective exacerbation of bronchiectasis encountered in government chest clinics in Hong Kong. 427 participants were assigned by random permutated blocks of 20 to receive either amoxicillin clavulanate (n = 212) or moxifloxacin (n = 215). Participants were followed for 1 yr for active pulmonary TB. Excluding three participants with positive baseline culture, 13 developed active pulmonary TB: 10 (4.8%) out of 210 were given amoxicillin clavulanate, and three (1.4%) out of 214 were given moxifloxacin. The difference was significant by both proportion and time-to-event analysis. Post hoc analysis showed a significant decrease in the proportion with active pulmonary TB from 4.8% to 2.4% and 0% among participants given amoxicillin clavulanate (n = 210), moxifloxacin for predominantly 5 days (n = 127) and 10 days (n = 87), respectively. The log rank test for trend also showed a significant difference between the three subgroups. Regression models reaffirmed the linear effect; the adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of active pulmonary TB after moxifloxacin exposure up to predominantly 10 days was 0.3 (0.1-0.9). Newer fluoroquinolones appear to mask active pulmonary TB.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Protection, Dept of Health, Hong Kong SAR, China. kc_chang@dh.gov.hk
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Yew
authors.forename: T Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Tse
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Wat
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones