In vitro characterization of fluoroquinolone concentration/MIC antimicrobial activity and resistance while simulating clinical pharmacokinetics of levofloxacin, ofloxacin, or ciprofloxacin against Streptococcus pneumoniae.

The relationship between antibacterial effect, resistance, and concentration/MIC parameters with S. pneumoniae was studied. Thirty duplicate bacterial concentration-time-kill curve (TKC) experiments were performed with an in vitro model. TKC with levofloxacin (LVX), Ofloxacin (OFX), and ciprofloxacin (CIP) were studied against six S. pneumoniae isolates. Experiments simulated variable peak serum concentrations, but clinically relevant half-lives and dosing intervals. TKC were performed in Mueller-Hinton Broth supplemented with horse blood (SMHB) at 10(7) CFU/ml. Susceptibility was assessed on colonies recovered post TKC. Multiple regression tested association of pharmacodynamic variables with antimicrobial effect, and logistic regression with resistance post TKC. Only drug (r(2) = 0.27; p < 0.0001) and AUC/MIC(24) (r(2) = 0.15; p < 0.001) were significant variables predictive of antibacterial effect. LVX AUC/MIC(24) of

Mycobacterium fortuitum meningitis associated with an epidural catheter: case report and a review of the literature.

Mycobacterium fortuitum is a rapidly growing organism that has rarely been associated with meningitis. A patient developed M. fortuitum meningitis as the result of a permanent indwelling, contaminated, epidural catheter. Diagnosis and treatment of the disease are difficult in that clinical features may be indolent, and many antimicrobials with activity against M. fortuitum have minimal cerebrospinal fluid penetration. This patient was cured with an antibiotic regimen that consisted of doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, imipenem, and clarithromycin, and removal of the epidural catheter.