Efficacy of intravenous ofloxacin: a French multicentre trial in 185 patients.

The efficacy of intravenous ofloxacin therapy (200 mg 12-hourly) followed, when appropriate, by oral administration of the same dose was evaluated in an open multicentre trial involving 185 patients in 31 French hospitals. Dosage adjustment was made for patients in renal failure. Infection was hospital-acquired in 35 cases, 53 patients required admission to an intensive care unit. The infections comprised septicaemia (n = 56), pneumonia (n = 18), bronchitis (n = 10), urinary tract (n = 78), female pelvis (n = 8), bone and joint (n = 5), skin and soft tissues (n = 10). The causative pathogens were: Staphylococcus spp. (n = 23), Streptococcus spp. (n = 11), Escherichia coli (n = 85), Haemophilus influenzae (n = 9), Klebsiella, Enterobacter or Serratia spp. (n = 21), Salmonella spp. (n = 22), Chlamydia spp. (n = 3), Legionella spp. (n = 1), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (n = 1) and miscellaneous Gram-negative bacilli (n = 17). All were ofloxacin-susceptible. Mean duration of therapy was 8.06 ( +/- 2.6) days for the i.v. and 14.8 ( +/- 14.39) days for the oral preparation. Clinical cure was achieved in 173 patients (93.5%). It is concluded that iv ofloxacin is an effective treatment for a range of infections due to susceptible organisms.

[Treatment of pneumonia caused by Legionella, Mycoplasma, Chlamydiae and Rickettsia using ofloxacin]. / Traitement des pneumonies dues aux légionelles, mycoplasmes, Chlamydiae et rickettsies par l'ofloxacine.

To asses the efficacy and the safety of ofloxacin as therapy of pneumonia caused by intracellular pathogens, 35 patients were studied (26 male, 9 female, mean age: 52.5 +/- 16.6 years). Causative pathogens were Chlamydia psittaci (n = 13), Legionella pneumophila (n = 10), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (n = 7) and Coxiella burnetii (n = 5). Ofloxacin was administered orally in 32 cases (200 mg b.i.d. in 80% of cases) and by I.V. route in 3 cases. All patients were cured without any side effects. In conclusion, ofloxacin appears, in our study, as an efficient therapy for these pneumonias. It could be considered as a valuable alternative to other antimicrobial agents with intra-cellular activity.

Diffusion of ofloxacin into human lung tissue.

Ofloxacin 200mg twice daily was administered to 17 patients with pulmonary disorders, which necessitated surgery, during the preceding 48 hours and 200mg was administered 1 hour before the operation. During surgery, blood samples and specimens of healthy and diseased lung tissues were taken simultaneously. Ofloxacin levels were determined by HPLC. The mean values of the tissue concentration/plasma concentration ratio were 3.5 +/- 0.4 for the healthy tissue and 3.9 +/- 0.4 for the diseased tissue. These values reflected good penetration of ofloxacin into both healthy and atelectasic pulmonary parenchyma.

[Pharmacokinetics of ofloxacin in the elderly (65-85 years) with normal renal function after a single oral dose of 200 mg]. / Pharmacocinétique de l'ofloxacine chez le sujet âge (65 à 85 ans) à fonction rénale normale après prise orale unique de 200 mg.

Ofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone that is mainly eliminated through the kidneys. We studied ofloxacin pharmacokinetics following administration of a single oral 200 mg dose to each of 16 elderly patients (77 +/- 2.4 years). Serum and urine concentrations were assayed using high performance liquid chromatography. Peak serum ofloxacin concentrations were 3.60 (+/- 0.36) micrograms/ml; residual concentrations were 1.33 (+/- 0.15) and 0.62 (+/- 0.10) micrograms/ml at 12 and 24 hours respectively. Urine concentrations approximating 100 micrograms/ml were found up to the 12th hour. As compared to healthy adults, in elderly subjects ofloxacin distribution volume (85.3 +/- 6.3 l) was decreased by 34%, apparent clearance (4.97 +/- 0.53 l/h) was divided by 2.6 and elimination half life (13.3 +/- 1.2 h) was almost doubled. A linear correlation was found between individual apparent ofloxacin clearances and creatinine clearances. In view of these significant changes in ofloxacin pharmacokinetics found in elderly subjects, we advocate reducing the usual dosage by half.

[Diffusion of ofloxacin in human lung tissue]. / Diffusion von Ofloxacin in menschliches Lungengewebe.

Ofloxacin was administered to 17 patients suffering from a pulmonary disorder necessitating surgery. The daily dosage employed was 200 mg b.i.d. during the 48 hours preceding the operation and 200 mg one hour before the operation. During surgery, blood samples and specimens of healthy and diseased lung tissue were taken simultaneously. The ofloxacin levels were determined by HPLC. The mean values of the tissue concentration/plasma concentration ratio were as follows: 3.5 +/- 0.4 for the healthy tissue and 3.9 +/- 0.4 for the diseased tissue. These values reflected good penetration of ofloxacin into both the healthy and atelectatic pulmonary parenchyma.

Pharmacokinetics of ofloxacin and theophylline alone and in combination.

The pharmacokinetic interactions of ofloxacin (2 X 200 mg) and theophylline (3 X 200 mg) were investigated in 12 healthy volunteers over a period of two weeks. In the first week, theophylline was given over five days to reach a steady state. In the second week, the combination of theophylline and ofloxacin was applied. Cmax, tmax, AUC0-8, the serum elimination constant and serum half-life of theophylline were not changed when theophylline was given alone or in combination with ofloxacin. The kinetic parameters of ofloxacin were in accordance with data from the literature.