Relationship between fluoroquinolone area under the curve: minimum inhibitory concentration ratio and the probability of eradication of the infecting pathogen, in patients with nosocomial pneumonia

J Infect Dis. 2004 May 1;189(9):1590-7. doi: 10.1086/383320. Epub 2004 Apr 16.

Abstract

Our objective was to prospectively determine the factors influencing the probability of a good microbiological or clinical outcome in patients with nosocomial pneumonia treated with a fluoroquinolone. Levofloxacin was administered as an infusion of 500 mg/h for 1.5 h (total dose, 750 mg). For patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a second drug was added (ceftazidime or piperacillin/tazobactam for P. aeruginosa and vancomycin for methicillin-resistant S. aureus). Population pharmacokinetic studies of 58 patients demonstrated that this population handled the drug differently from populations of volunteers. Multivariate logistic regression analysis (n=47 patients) demonstrated that only the age of the patient and the achievement of an area under the curve: minimum inhibitory concentration ratio of > or =87 had a significant effect on eradication of the pathogen (P<.001). Achieving the breakpoint made the patient 4 times more likely to achieve eradication. The effect was greatest in patients > or =67 years old.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Infective Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacokinetics*
  • Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Area Under Curve
  • Cross Infection / drug therapy
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • Female
  • Fluoroquinolones / administration & dosage
  • Fluoroquinolones / pharmacokinetics*
  • Fluoroquinolones / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Levofloxacin*
  • Male
  • Methicillin Resistance
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Ofloxacin / administration & dosage
  • Ofloxacin / pharmacokinetics*
  • Ofloxacin / therapeutic use
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / drug therapy*
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Pneumonia, Staphylococcal / drug therapy
  • Pneumonia, Staphylococcal / microbiology
  • Pseudomonas Infections / drug therapy
  • Pseudomonas Infections / microbiology
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Fluoroquinolones
  • Levofloxacin
  • Ofloxacin