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Is levofloxacin as active as ciprofloxacin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa?
1Dipartimento di Scienze Microbiologiche, Università di Catania, Italia. bonfigio@mbox.unict.it
Abstract:
The in vitro activity of levofloxacin against 300 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from hospitalized patients, with the exception of those recovered in intensive care or hematology units, was compared to ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, piperacillin, amikacin, ceftazidime and imipenem. Imipenem showed the best activity (81.6%), followed by piperacillin (80.7%). The activity of levofloxacin was equal to that of ciprofloxacin (75.3%) but was more active than ofloxacin (58.1%). Moreover, the MIC values of levofloxacin did not show any statistical difference using two different inocula. Levofloxacin shows an excellent bactericidal activity being generally within one doubling dilution of the MIC. These results were also confirmed by the time-killing studies. In conclusion, according to the in vitro activity, levofloxacin could be considered a good option for the treatment of infections sustained by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and clinical experiments are required to corroborate our in vitro data.
Insights
Levofloxacin demonstrates potent in vitro activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, comparable to ciprofloxacin. This suggests levofloxacin is a promising option for treating Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, pending clinical trials.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections.
- Evaluating the in vitro efficacy of antibiotics is crucial for guiding treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the in vitro activity of levofloxacin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with other common antibiotics.
- To assess the potential of levofloxacin for treating P. aeruginosa infections.
Main Methods:
- In vitro susceptibility testing of 300 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates.
- Comparison of levofloxacin with ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, piperacillin, amikacin, ceftazidime, and imipenem.
- Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) determination and time-killing studies.
Main Results:
- Imipenem (81.6%) and piperacillin (80.7%) showed the highest activity.
- Levofloxacin exhibited 75.3% activity, similar to ciprofloxacin but superior to ofloxacin (58.1%).
- Levofloxacin displayed excellent bactericidal activity, consistent across different inocula and confirmed by time-killing studies.
Conclusions:
- Levofloxacin shows significant in vitro efficacy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- Levofloxacin is a potential therapeutic option for P. aeruginosa infections.
- Further clinical studies are warranted to confirm these in vitro findings.