Oral ciprofloxacin for treatment of severe infections

Twenty adult patients with severe infections were treated with oral ciprofloxacin, 500 or 750 mg twice daily. Treatment ranged from 8 to 25 days. Efficacy was good: 14 patients (70%) were cured, four (20%) improved and there were only two (10%) failures. Tolerance was very satisfactory, the most common side-effects being mild gastrointestinal symptoms (three patients). Only one adverse laboratory result was observed: a transient rise in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels. None of the adverse effects led to discontinuation of treatment. Thus, ciprofloxacin presents as a promising drug for treatment of severe infections caused by susceptible organisms when ambulatorial therapy, at least during a large part of the treatment, is possible and desirable.