Moxifloxacin-containing regimens of reduced duration produce a stable cure in murine tuberculosis

Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2004 Nov 15;170(10):1131-4. doi: 10.1164/rccm.200407-885OC. Epub 2004 Aug 11.

Abstract

In a recent experimental study using the mouse model of tuberculosis, treatment with a combination of rifampin, moxifloxacin, and pyrazinamide was able to shorten the time to negative lung cultures by up to 2 months compared with the standard regimen of rifampin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide. To confirm that this substitution of moxifloxacin for isoniazid permits a shorter duration of treatment, a second study was performed in which mice were assessed for relapse after treatment with combination therapy for 3, 4, 5, or 6 months. Although no relapse was observed among mice treated for at least 4 months with rifampin, moxifloxacin, and pyrazinamide, mice treated with rifampin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide required 6 months of treatment before no relapse could be detected. For mice treated with rifampin, moxifloxacin, and pyrazinamide, similar efficacy was noted whether pyrazinamide was administered for 1 month, 2 months, or the entire duration of therapy. These results suggest that the use of rifampin, moxifloxacin, and pyrazinamide may substantially shorten the duration of therapy needed to cure human tuberculosis and that the full benefit of pyrazinamide in this regimen may be realized after just 1 month of treatment.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antitubercular Agents / pharmacology*
  • Aza Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Fluoroquinolones
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Moxifloxacin
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Quinolines / pharmacology*
  • Random Allocation
  • Reference Values
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Aza Compounds
  • Fluoroquinolones
  • Quinolines
  • Moxifloxacin