Thursday, August 4, 2011

Emedinews: Dr Good Dr Bad:A patient with community-acquired pneumonia was put on 750 mg levofloxacin.


Situation: A patient with community-acquired pneumonia was put on 750 mg levofloxacin.
Dr Bad: Take 500 mg for 10 days.
Dr Good: Take it for 5 days.
Lesson: The anti-pneumococcal fluoroquinolones (e.g., levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, gemifloxacin) have been used for 5 to 14 days in inpatients and outpatients with community-acquired pneumonia with most patients having a good clinical response within 2 to 3 days. Using a higher dose of a levofloxacin may decrease the duration of therapy; 750 mg for five days was as effective as 500 mg for 10 days and was associated with a more rapid resolution of fever (Clin Infect Dis 2003;37:752-60).

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