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Ciprofloxacin treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infections
1Toronto East General and Orthopaedic Hospital, Canada.
Abstract:
Ciprofloxacin appears to be safe and effective for a wide variety of clinical infections. In-vitro and animal studies point to high cure rates for both methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections. Seventeen patients with staphylococcal infections severe enough to require hospital admission and initial parenteral therapy were treated with ciprofloxacin; the results were poor, with clinical failure in five and bacteriological failure in 12. All pathogens isolated were susceptible to ciprofloxacin both before and after therapy and tolerance was not detected. Further study is required before ciprofloxacin can be recommended for life threatening staphylococcal infections.
Insights
Ciprofloxacin shows promise for Staphylococcus aureus infections in early studies. However, clinical trials reveal poor outcomes for severe staphylococcal infections, indicating further research is needed.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Microbiology
Background:
- Ciprofloxacin is a broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic with demonstrated in-vitro and animal efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus.
- Previous research suggested high cure rates for both methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of ciprofloxacin in patients with severe staphylococcal infections requiring hospitalization and initial parenteral therapy.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of seventeen patients with severe staphylococcal infections was treated with ciprofloxacin.
- Clinical and bacteriological outcomes were assessed.
- In-vitro susceptibility testing of isolated pathogens to ciprofloxacin was performed before and after therapy.
Main Results:
- Seventeen patients with severe staphylococcal infections were treated with ciprofloxacin.
- Poor clinical outcomes were observed, with five patients experiencing clinical failure.
- Bacteriological failure occurred in twelve patients, despite pathogen susceptibility to ciprofloxacin both pre- and post-therapy.
- No instances of tolerance to ciprofloxacin were detected.
Conclusions:
- Ciprofloxacin demonstrated poor efficacy in treating severe staphylococcal infections in this patient cohort.
- Despite in-vitro susceptibility, clinical and bacteriological failures were high.
- Further investigation is warranted before recommending ciprofloxacin for life-threatening staphylococcal infections.