Levofloxacin

Last updated

Levofloxacin
Levofloxacin skeletal.svg
Levofloxacin ball-and-stick 3RAE.png
Clinical data
Trade names Levaquin, Iquix, others
AHFS/Drugs.com Monograph
MedlinePlus a697040
License data
Routes of
administration
By mouth, intravenous (IV), eye drops
Drug class Fluoroquinolone
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability 99% [3]
Protein binding 31% [3]
Metabolism <5% desmethyl and N-oxide metabolites
Elimination half-life 6.9 hours [3]
Excretion Kidney, mostly unchanged (83%) [3]
Identifiers
  • (S)-9-fluoro-2,3-dihydro-3-methyl-10-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-7-oxo-7H-pyrido[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazine-6-carboxylic acid
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
NIAID ChemDB
PDB ligand
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard 100.115.581 OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Chemical and physical data
Formula C18H20FN3O4
Molar mass 361.373 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
Density 1.5±0.1 [4]  g/cm3
  • C[C@H]1COc2c3n1cc(c(=O)c3cc(c2N4CCN(CC4)C)F)C(=O)O
  • InChI=1S/C18H20FN3O4/c1-10-9-26-17-14-11(16(23)12(18(24)25)8-22(10)14)7-13(19)15(17)21-5-3-20(2)4-6-21/h7-8,10H,3-6,9H2,1-2H3,(H,24,25)/t10-/m0/s1 Yes check.svgY
  • Key:GSDSWSVVBLHKDQ-JTQLQIEISA-N Yes check.svgY
 X mark.svgNYes check.svgY  (what is this?)    (verify)

Levofloxacin, sold under the brand name Levaquin among others, is a broad-spectrum antibiotic of the fluoroquinolone drug class. [5] It is the left-handed isomer of the medication ofloxacin. [5] [6] It is used to treat a number of bacterial infections including acute bacterial sinusitis, pneumonia, H. pylori (in combination with other medications), urinary tract infections, Legionnaires' disease, chronic bacterial prostatitis, and some types of gastroenteritis. [6] Along with other antibiotics it may be used to treat tuberculosis, meningitis, or pelvic inflammatory disease. [6] It is available by mouth, intravenously, [6] and in eye drop form. [7]

Contents

Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and trouble sleeping. [6] A warning concerning all fluoroquinolones was issued in 2016: "An FDA safety review has shown that fluoroquinolones when used systemically (i.e. tablets, capsules, and injectable) are associated with disabling and potentially permanent serious adverse effects that can occur together. These adverse effects can involve the tendons, muscles, joints, nerves, and central nervous system." [8]

Other serious side effects may include tendon rupture, tendon inflammation, seizures, psychosis, and potentially permanent peripheral nerve damage. [6] Tendon damage may appear months after treatment is completed. [6] People may also sunburn more easily. [6] In people with myasthenia gravis, muscle weakness and breathing problems may worsen. [6] While use during pregnancy is not recommended, risk appears to be low. [5] The use of other medications in this class appear to be safe while breastfeeding; however, the safety of levofloxacin is unclear. [5]

Levofloxacin was patented in 1985 and approved for medical use in the United States in 1996. [6] [9] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. [10] It is available as a generic medication. [6] In 2021, it was the 223rd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 1 million prescriptions. [11] [12]

Medical uses

Levofloxacin is used to treat infections including: respiratory tract infections, cellulitis, urinary tract infections, prostatitis, anthrax, endocarditis, meningitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, traveler's diarrhea, tuberculosis, and plague [6] [13] and is available by mouth, intravenously, [6] and in eye drop form. [7]

As of 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that "serious side effects associated with fluoroquinolone antibacterial drugs generally outweigh the benefits for patients with acute sinusitis, acute bronchitis, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections who have other treatment options. For patients with these conditions, fluoroquinolones should be reserved for those who do not have alternative treatment options." [8]

Levofloxacin is used for the treatment of pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and abdominal infections. As of 2007 the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) and the American Thoracic Society recommended levofloxacin and other respiratory fluoroquinolines as first line treatment for community acquired pneumonia when co-morbidities such as heart, lung, or liver disease are present or when in-patient treatment is required. [14] Levofloxacin also plays an important role in recommended treatment regimens for ventilator-associated and healthcare-associated pneumonia. [15]

As of 2010 it was recommended by the IDSA as a first-line treatment option for catheter-associated urinary tract infections in adults. [16] In combination with metronidazole it is recommended as one of several first-line treatment options for adult patients with community-acquired intra-abdominal infections of mild-to-moderate severity. [17] The IDSA also recommends it in combination with rifampicin as a first-line treatment for prosthetic joint infections. [18] The American Urological Association recommends levofloxacin as a first-line treatment to prevent bacterial prostatitis when the prostate is biopsied. [19] and as of 2004 it was recommended to treat bacterial prostatitis by the NIH research network studying the condition. [20]

Levofloxacin and other fluoroquinolones have also been widely used for the treatment of uncomplicated community-acquired respiratory and urinary tract infections, indications for which major medical societies generally recommend the use of older, narrower spectrum drugs to avoid fluoroquinolone resistance development. Due to its widespread use, common pathogens such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae have developed resistance. In many countries as of 2013, resistance rates among healthcare-associated infections with these pathogens exceeded 20%. [21] [22]

Levofloxacin is also used as antibiotic eye drops to prevent bacterial infection. Usage of levofloxacin eye drops, along with an antibiotic injection of cefuroxime or penicillin during cataract surgery, has been found to lower the chance of developing endophthalmitis, compared to eye drops or injections alone. [23]

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

According to the FDA approved prescribing information, levofloxacin is pregnancy category C. [13] This designation indicates that animal reproduction studies have shown adverse effects on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but the potential benefit to the mother may in some cases outweigh the risk to the fetus. Available data point to a low risk for the unborn child. [5] Exposure to quinolones, including levofloxacin, during the first-trimester is not associated with an increased risk of stillbirths, premature births, birth defects, or low birth weight. [24]

Levofloxacin does penetrate into breastmilk, though the concentration of levofloxacin in the breastfeeding infant is expected to be low. [25] Due to potential risks to the baby, the manufacturer does not recommend that nursing mothers take levofloxacin. [13] However, the risk appears to be very low, and levofloxacin can be used in breastfeeding mothers with proper monitoring of the infant, combined with delaying breastfeeding for 4–6 hours after taking levofloxacin. [25]

Children

Levofloxacin is not approved in most countries for the treatment of children except in unique and life-threatening infections because it is associated with an elevated risk of musculoskeletal injury in this population, a property it shares with other fluoroquinolones.

In the United States levofloxacin is approved for the treatment of anthrax and plague in children over six months of age. [13]

Levofloxacin is recommended by the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society and the Infectious Disease Society of America as a first-line treatment for pediatric pneumonia caused by penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, and as a second-line agent for the treatment of penicillin-sensitive cases. [26]

In one study, [13] [27] 1534 juvenile patients (age 6 months to 16 years) treated with levofloxacin as part of three efficacy trials were followed up to assess all musculoskeletal events occurring up to 12 months post-treatment. At 12 months follow-up the cumulative incidence of musculoskeletal adverse events was 3.4%, compared to 1.8% among 893 patients treated with other antibiotics. In the levafloxacin-treated group, approximately two-thirds of these musculoskeletal adverse events occurred in the first 60 days, 86% were mild, 17% were moderate, and all resolved without long-term sequelae.

Spectrum of activity

Levofloxacin and later generation fluoroquinolones are collectively referred to as "respiratory quinolones" to distinguish them from earlier fluoroquinolones which exhibited modest activity toward the important respiratory pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. [28]

The drug exhibits enhanced activity against the important respiratory pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae relative to earlier fluoroquinolone derivatives like ciprofloxacin. For this reason, it is considered a "respiratory fluoroquinolone" along with more recently developed fluoroquinolones such as moxifloxacin and gemifloxacin. It is less active than ciprofloxacin against Gram-negative bacteria, especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and lacks the anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) activity of moxifloxacin and gemifloxacin. [29] [30] [31] [32] Levofloxacin has shown moderate activity against anaerobes, and is about twice as potent as ofloxacin against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium avium complex. [33]

Its spectrum of activity includes most strains of bacterial pathogens responsible for respiratory, urinary tract, gastrointestinal, and abdominal infections, including Gram negative ( Escherichia coli , Haemophilus influenzae , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Legionella pneumophila , Moraxella catarrhalis , Proteus mirabilis , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ), Gram positive (methicillin-sensitive but not methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus , Streptococcus pneumoniae , Staphylococcus epidermidis , Enterococcus faecalis , and Streptococcus pyogenes ), and atypical bacterial pathogens ( Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae ). Compared to earlier antibiotics of the fluoroquinoline class such as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin exhibits greater activity towards Gram-positive bacteria [29] but lesser activity toward Gram-negative bacteria, [34] especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Resistance

Resistance to fluoroquinolones is common in staphylococcus and pseudomonas. Resistance occurs in multiple ways. One mechanism is by an alteration in topoisomerase IV enzyme. A double mutant form of S. pneumoniae Gyr A + Par C bearing Ser-81-->Phe and Ser-79-->Phe mutations were eight to sixteen times less responsive to ciprofloxacin. [35]

Contraindications and interactions

Package inserts mention that levofloxacin is to be avoided in patients with a known hypersensitivity to levofloxacin or other quinolone drugs. [13] [36]

Like all fluoroquinolines, levofloxacin is contraindicated in patients with epilepsy or other seizure disorders, and in patients who have a history of quinolone-associated tendon rupture. [13] [36]

Levofloxacin may prolong the QT interval in some people, especially the elderly, and levofloxacin should not be used for people with a family history of Long QT syndrome, or who have long QT, chronic low potassium, it should not be prescribed with other drugs that prolong the QT interval. [13]

Unlike ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin does not appear to deactivate the drug metabolizing enzyme CYP1A2. Therefore, drugs that use that enzyme, like theophylline, do not interact with levofloxacin. It is a weak inhibitor of CYP2C9, [37] suggesting potential to block the breakdown of warfarin and phenprocoumon. This can result in more action of drugs like warfarin, leading to more potential side effects, such as bleeding. [38]

The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in combination with high dose fluoroquinolone therapy may lead to seizures. [39]

When levofloxacin is taken with anti-acids containing magnesium hydroxide or aluminum hydroxide, the two combine to form insoluble salts that are difficult to absorb from the intestines. Peak serum concentrations of levofloxacin may be reduced by 90% or more, which can prevent the levofloxacin from working. Similar results have been reported when levofloxacin is taken with iron supplements and multi-vitamins containing zinc. [40] [41]

A 2011 review examining musculoskeletal complications of fluoroquinolones proposed guidelines with respect to administration to athletes, that called for avoiding all use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics if possible, and if they are used: ensure there is informed consent about the musculoskeletal risks, and inform coaching staff; do not use any corticosteroids if fluoroquinolones are used; consider dietary supplements of magnesium and antioxidants during treatment; reduce training until the course of antibiotic is finished and then carefully increase back to normal; and monitor for six months after the course is finished, and stop all athletic activity if symptoms emerge. [42]

Adverse effects

Adverse effects are typically mild to moderate. However, severe, disabling, and potentially irreversible adverse effects sometimes occur, and for this reason it is recommended that use of fluoroquinolones be limited.

Prominent among these are adverse effects that became the subject of a black box warning by the FDA in 2016. [8] The FDA wrote: "An FDA safety review has shown that fluoroquinolones when used systemically (i.e. tablets, capsules, and injectable) are associated with disabling and potentially permanent serious adverse effects that can occur together. These adverse effects can involve the tendons, muscles, joints, nerves, and central nervous system." [8] Rarely, tendinitis or tendon rupture may occur due to fluoroquinolone antibiotics, including levofloxacin. [43] Such injuries, including tendon rupture, has been observed up to six months after cessation of treatment; higher doses of fluoroquinolones, being elderly, transplant patients, and those with a current or historical corticosteroid use are at elevated risk. [44] [45] The U.S. label for levofloxacin also contains a black box warning for the exacerbation of the symptoms of the neurological disease myasthenia gravis. [13] [46] Similarly, the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency recommendations warn of rare but disabling and potentially irreversible adverse effects, and to recommend limiting use of these drugs. [47] Increasing age and corticosteroid use appears to increase the risk of musculoskeletal complications. [42]

A wide variety of other uncommon but serious adverse events have been associated with fluoroquinolone use, with varying degrees of evidence supporting causation. These include anaphylaxis, hepatotoxicity, central nervous system effects including seizures and psychiatric effects, prolongation of the QT interval, blood glucose disturbances, and photosensitivity, among others. [13] [36] Levofloxacin may produce fewer of these rare serious adverse effects than other fluoroquinolones. [48]

There is some disagreement in the medical literature regarding whether and to what extent levofloxacin and other fluoroquinolones produce serious adverse effects more frequently than other broad spectrum antibacterial drugs. [49] [50] [51] [52]

Concerning more usual adverse effects, in pooled results from 7537 patients exposed to levofloxacin in 29 clinical trials, 4.3% discontinued treatment due to adverse drug reactions. The most common adverse reactions leading to discontinuation were gastrointestinal, including nausea, vomiting, and constipation. Overall, 7% of patients experienced nausea, 6% headache, 5% diarrhea, and 4% insomnia, along with other adverse reactions experienced at lower rates. [13]

Administration of levofloxacin or other broad-spectrum antibiotics is associated with Clostridioides difficile associated diarrhea which may range in severity from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis. Fluoroquinolone administration may be associated with the acquisition and outgrowth of a particularly virulent Clostridioides strain. [53]

More research is needed to determine the best dose and length of treatment. [54]

Overdose

Overdosing experiments in animals showed loss of body control and drooping, difficulty breathing, tremors, and convulsions. Doses in excess of 1500 mg/kg orally and 250 mg/kg IV produced significant mortality in rodents. [13]

In the event of an acute overdosage, authorities recommend unspecific standard procedures such as emptying the stomach, observing the patient and maintaining appropriate hydration. Levofloxacin is not efficiently removed by hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. [13]

Pharmacology

Mechanism of action

Levofloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Like all quinolones, it functions by inhibiting the DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, two bacterial type IIA topoisomerases. [55] Topoisomerase IV is necessary to separate DNA that has been replicated (doubled) prior to bacterial cell division. With the DNA not being separated, the process is stopped, and the bacterium cannot divide. DNA gyrase, on the other hand, is responsible for supercoiling the DNA, so that it will fit in the newly formed cells. Both mechanisms amount to killing the bacterium. Levofloxacin acts as a bactericide. [56]

As of 2011, the mechanism of action for the drug's musculoskeletal complications were not clear. [42]

Pharmacokinetics

Levofloxacin is rapidly and essentially completely absorbed after oral administration, with a plasma concentration profile over time that is essentially identical to that obtained from intravenous administration of the same amount over 60 minutes. As such, the intravenous and oral formulations of levofloxacin are considered interchangeable. [13] Levofloxacin's ability to bind to proteins in the body ranges from 24 to 38%. [54]

The drug undergoes widespread distribution into body tissues. Peak levels in skin are achieved 3 hours after administration and exceed those in plasma by a factor of 2. Similarly, lung tissue concentrations range from two-fold to five-fold higher than plasma concentrations in the 24 hours after a single dose.

The mean terminal plasma elimination half-life of levofloxacin ranges from approximately 6 to 8 hours following single or multiple doses of levofloxacin given orally or intravenously. Elimination occurs mainly via excretion of unmetabolized drug in the urine. Following oral administration, 87% of an administered dose was recovered in the urine as unchanged drug within 2 days. Less than 5% was recovered in the urine as the desmethyl and N-oxide metabolites, the only metabolites identified in humans.

Chemistry

Like all fluoroquinolones, levofloxacin is a fluorinated quinolone carboxylic acid. It is a chiral molecule and the pure (−)-(S)-enantiomer of the racemic drug ofloxacin. [57] [58] [59] This enantiomer binds more effectively to the DNA gyrase enzyme and to topoisomerase IV than its (+)-(R)-counterpart. [54] Levofloxacin is referred to as a chiral switch: These are chiral drugs that have already been patent claimed, approved and marketed as racemates (or as mixtures of diastereomers [60] but have since been redeveloped as pure enantiomers. [61] Distinct functional groups on this molecules include a hydroxyl group, carbonyl group, and an aromatic ring. [62] [ failed verification ]

The substance is used as the hemihydrate, which has the empirical formula C18H20FN3O4 · 12 H2O and a molecular mass of 370.38 g/mol. Levofloxacin is a light-yellowish-white to yellow-white crystal or crystalline powder. [13] A major issue in the synthesis of levofloxacin is identifying correct entries into the benzoxazine core in order to produce the correct chiral form. [63]

History

Levofloxacin is a third-generation fluoroquinolone, being one of the isomers of ofloxacin, which was a broader-spectrum conformationally locked analog of norfloxacin; both ofloxacin and levofloxaxin were synthesized and developed by scientists at Daiichi Seiyaku. [64] The Daiichi scientists knew that ofloxacin was racemic, but tried unsuccessfully to separate the two isomers; in 1985 they succeeded in separately synthesizing the pure levo form and showed that it was less toxic and more potent than the other form. [65] [66]

It was first approved for marketing in Japan in 1993, for oral administration, and Daiichi marketed it there under the brand name Cravit. [66] Daiichi, working with Johnson & Johnson as it had with ofloxacin, obtained FDA approval in 1996 under the brand name Levaquin [65] to treat bacterial sinusitus, bacterial exacerbations of bronchitis, community-acquired pneumonia, uncomplicated skin infections, complicated urinary tract infections, and acute pyelonephritis. [13]

Levofloxacin is marketed by Sanofi-Aventis under a license agreement signed with Daiichi in 1993, under the brand name "Tavanic". [67]

Levofloxacin had reached blockbuster status by this time; combined worldwide sales of levofloxacin and ofloxacin for J&J alone were US$1.6 billion in 2009. [67]

The term of the levofloxacin United States patent was extended by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office 810 days under the provisions of the Hatch Waxman Amendment so that the patent would expire in 2010 instead of 2008. [65] This extension was challenged by generic drug manufacturer Lupin Pharmaceuticals, which did not challenge the validity of the patent, but only the validity of the patent extension, arguing that the patent did not cover a "product" and so Hatch-Waxman was not available for extensions. [65] The federal patent court ruled in favor of J&J and Daiichi, and generic versions of levofloxacin did not enter the U.S. market until 2009. [65] [67]

Society and culture

Availability

Levofloxacin and NaCl injection, specification is 100mL / 750mg Levofloxacin.jpg
Levofloxacin and NaCl injection, specification is 100mL / 750mg

Levofloxacin is available in tablet form, injection, and oral solution. [13]

Usage

The FDA estimated that in 2011, over 23 million outpatient prescriptions for fluoroquinolones, of which levofloxacin made up 28%, were filled in the United States. [68]

Litigation

As of 2012, Johnson and Johnson was facing around 3400 state and federal lawsuits filed by people who claimed tendon damage from levofloxacin; about 1900 pending in a class action at the United States District Court in Minnesota [69] and about 1500 pending at a district court in New Jersey. [70] [71]

In October 2012, J&J settled 845 cases in the Minnesota action, after Johnson and Johnson prevailed in three of the first four cases to go to trial. By May 2014, all but 363 cases had been settled or adjudicated. [71] [72] [73]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ciprofloxacin</span> Fluoroquinolone antibiotic

Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic used to treat a number of bacterial infections. This includes bone and joint infections, intra-abdominal infections, certain types of infectious diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, skin infections, typhoid fever, and urinary tract infections, among others. For some infections it is used in addition to other antibiotics. It can be taken by mouth, as eye drops, as ear drops, or intravenously.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nitrofurantoin</span> Antibacterial drug

Nitrofurantoin, sold under the brand name Macrobid among others, is an antibacterial medication of the nitrofuran class used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs), although it is not as effective for kidney infections. It is taken by mouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ofloxacin</span> Antibiotic to treat bacterial infections

Ofloxacin is a quinolone antibiotic useful for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections. When taken by mouth or injection into a vein, these include pneumonia, cellulitis, urinary tract infections, prostatitis, plague, and certain types of infectious diarrhea. Other uses, along with other medications, include treating multidrug resistant tuberculosis. An eye drop may be used for a superficial bacterial infection of the eye and an ear drop may be used for otitis media when a hole in the ear drum is present.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carbapenem</span> Class of highly effective antibiotic agents

Carbapenems are a class of very effective antibiotic agents most commonly used for treatment of severe bacterial infections. This class of antibiotics is usually reserved for known or suspected multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. Similar to penicillins and cephalosporins, carbapenems are members of the beta-lactam antibiotics drug class, which kill bacteria by binding to penicillin-binding proteins, thus inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis. However, these agents individually exhibit a broader spectrum of activity compared to most cephalosporins and penicillins. Furthermore, carbapenems are typically unaffected by emerging antibiotic resistance, even to other beta-lactams.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) refers to pneumonia contracted by a person outside of the healthcare system. In contrast, hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is seen in patients who have recently visited a hospital or who live in long-term care facilities. CAP is common, affecting people of all ages, and its symptoms occur as a result of oxygen-absorbing areas of the lung (alveoli) filling with fluid. This inhibits lung function, causing dyspnea, fever, chest pains and cough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norfloxacin</span> Chemical compound, antibiotic

Norfloxacin, sold under the brand name Noroxin among others, is an antibiotic that belongs to the class of fluoroquinolone antibiotics. It is used to treat urinary tract infections, gynecological infections, inflammation of the prostate gland, gonorrhea and bladder infection. Eye drops were approved for use in children older than one year of age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moxifloxacin</span> Antibiotic

Moxifloxacin is an antibiotic, used to treat bacterial infections, including pneumonia, conjunctivitis, endocarditis, tuberculosis, and sinusitis. It can be given by mouth, by injection into a vein, and as an eye drop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enoxacin</span> Chemical compound

Enoxacin is an oral broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibacterial agent used in the treatment of urinary tract infections and gonorrhea. Insomnia is a common adverse effect. It is no longer available in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gemifloxacin</span> Medication to treat chronic bronchitis

Gemifloxacin mesylate, sold under the brand name Factive among others, is a broad-spectrum quinolone antibacterial agent used in the treatment of acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis and mild-to-moderate pneumonia. It is taken by mouth. Vansen Pharma Inc. licensed the active ingredient from LG Life Sciences of Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sparfloxacin</span> Chemical to treat bacterial infections

Sparfloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic used in the treatment of bacterial infections. It has a controversial safety profile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinoxacin</span> Chemical compound

Cinoxacin is a quinolone antibiotic that has been discontinued in the U.K. as well the United States, both as a branded drug or a generic. The marketing authorization of cinoxacin has been suspended throughout the EU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flumequine</span> Chemical compound

Flumequine is a synthetic fluoroquinolone antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections. It is a first-generation fluoroquinolone antibacterial that has been removed from clinical use and is no longer being marketed. The marketing authorization of flumequine has been suspended throughout the EU. It kills bacteria by interfering with the enzymes that cause DNA to unwind and duplicate. Flumequine was used in veterinarian medicine for the treatment of enteric infections, as well as to treat cattle, swine, chickens, and fish, but only in a limited number of countries. It was occasionally used in France to treat urinary tract infections under the trade name Apurone. However this was a limited indication because only minimal serum levels were achieved.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prulifloxacin</span> Chemical compound

Prulifloxacin is an older synthetic antibiotic of the fluoroquinolone class undergoing clinical trials prior to a possible NDA submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is a prodrug which is metabolized in the body to the active compound ulifloxacin. It was developed over two decades ago by Nippon Shinyaku Co. and was patented in Japan in 1987 and in the United States in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chronic bacterial prostatitis</span> Bacterial infection of the prostate gland

Chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) is a bacterial infection of the prostate gland and a form of prostatitis. It should be distinguished from other forms of prostatitis such as acute bacterial prostatitis (ABP) and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Difloxacin</span> Chemical compound

Difloxacin (INN), marketed under the trade name Dicural, is a second-generation, synthetic fluoroquinolone antibiotic used in veterinary medicine. It has broad-spectrum, concentration dependent, bactericidal activity; however, its efficacy is not as good as enrofloxacin or pradofloxacin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antibiotic misuse</span> Improper use of antibiotic medications

Antibiotic misuse, sometimes called antibiotic abuse or antibiotic overuse, refers to the misuse or overuse of antibiotics, with potentially serious effects on health. It is a contributing factor to the development of antibiotic resistance, including the creation of multidrug-resistant bacteria, informally called "super bugs": relatively harmless bacteria can develop resistance to multiple antibiotics and cause life-threatening infections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solithromycin</span> Chemical compound

Solithromycin is a ketolide antibiotic undergoing clinical development for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia and other infections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quinolone antibiotic</span> Class of antibacterial drugs, subgroup of quinolones

Quinolone antibiotics constitute a large group of broad-spectrum bacteriocidals that share a bicyclic core structure related to the substance 4-quinolone. They are used in human and veterinary medicine to treat bacterial infections, as well as in animal husbandry, specifically poultry production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finafloxacin</span> Chemical compound

Finafloxacin (Xtoro) is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. In the United States, it is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat acute otitis externa caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urinary anti-infective agent</span> Medication for urinary tract infections

Urinary anti-infective agent, also known as urinary antiseptic, is medication that can eliminate microorganisms causing urinary tract infection (UTI). UTI can be categorized into two primary types: cystitis, which refers to lower urinary tract or bladder infection, and pyelonephritis, which indicates upper urinary tract or kidney infection. Escherichia coli is the predominant microbial trigger of UTIs, accounting for 75% to 95% of reported cases. Other pathogens such as Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus can also cause UTIs.

References

  1. "Product monograph brand safety updates". Health Canada. February 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  2. "FDA-sourced list of all drugs with black box warnings (Use Download Full Results and View Query links.)". nctr-crs.fda.gov. FDA . Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Zhanel GG, Fontaine S, Adam H, Schurek K, Mayer M, Noreddin AM, et al. (2006). "A Review of New Fluoroquinolones: Focus on their Use in Respiratory Tract Infections". Treat Respir Med. 5 (6): 437–65. doi:10.2165/00151829-200605060-00009. PMID   17154673. S2CID   26955572.
  4. "Levofloxacin". Material Safety Data Sheet. ChemSrc.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Yaffe GB, Freeman RK, Sumner J (2011). Drugs in pregnancy and lactation: a reference guide to fetal and neonatal risk (9th ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 828. ISBN   978-1-60831-708-0. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Levofloxacin". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 1 May 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Levofloxacin ophthalmic medical facts from Drugs.com". Drugs.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA advises restricting fluoroquinolone antibiotic use for certain uncomplicated infections; warns about disabling adverse effects that can occur". US Department of Health and Human Services. US Food and Drug Administration. 25 August 2016. Archived from the original on 25 August 2016.
  9. Fischer J, Ganellin CR (2006). Analogue-based Drug Discovery. John Wiley & Sons. p. 500. ISBN   978-3-527-60749-5.
  10. World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl: 10665/325771 . WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
  11. "The Top 300 of 2021". ClinCalc. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  12. "Levofloxacin - Drug Usage Statistics". ClinCalc. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "US Label" (PDF). 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 September 2016.
  14. Mandell LA, Wunderink RG, Anzueto A, Bartlett JG, Campbell GD, Dean NC, et al. (March 2007). "Infectious Diseases Society of America/American Thoracic Society consensus guidelines on the management of community-acquired pneumonia in adults". Clinical Infectious Diseases. 44 (Suppl 2): S27–S72. doi: 10.1086/511159 . PMC   7107997 . PMID   17278083.
  15. File TM (August 2010). "Recommendations for treatment of hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia: review of recent international guidelines". Clinical Infectious Diseases. 51 (Suppl 1): S42–S47. doi: 10.1086/653048 . PMID   20597671.
  16. Hooton TM, Bradley SF, Cardenas DD, Colgan R, Geerlings SE, Rice JC, et al. (March 2010). "Diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of catheter-associated urinary tract infection in adults: 2009 International Clinical Practice Guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America". Clinical Infectious Diseases. 50 (5): 625–663. doi: 10.1086/650482 . PMID   20175247.
  17. Solomkin JS, Mazuski JE, Bradley JS, Rodvold KA, Goldstein EJ, Baron EJ, et al. (January 2010). "Diagnosis and management of complicated intra-abdominal infection in adults and children: guidelines by the Surgical Infection Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America". Clinical Infectious Diseases. 50 (2): 133–164. doi: 10.1086/649554 . PMID   20034345.
  18. Osmon DR, Berbari EF, Berendt AR, Lew D, Zimmerli W, Steckelberg JM, et al. (January 2013). "Executive summary: diagnosis and management of prosthetic joint infection: clinical practice guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America". Clinical Infectious Diseases. 56 (1): 1–10. doi: 10.1093/cid/cis966 . PMID   23230301.
  19. "The Prevention and Treatment of the More Common Complications Related to Prostate Biopsy Update" (PDF). American Urological Association. 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2016.
  20. Schaeffer AJ (September 2004). "NIDDK-sponsored chronic prostatitis collaborative research network (CPCRN) 5-year data and treatment guidelines for bacterial prostatitis". International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents. 24 (Suppl 1): S49–S52. doi:10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2004.02.009. PMID   15364307.
  21. ECDC (2014). "Antimicrobial resistance surveillance in Europe 2014". Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 April 2016.
  22. CDC. "Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2013" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 November 2014.
  23. Gower EW, Lindsley K, Tulenko SE, Nanji AA, Leyngold I, McDonnell PJ (2017). "Perioperative antibiotics for prevention of acute endophthalmitis after cataract surgery". Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 (2): CD006364. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006364.pub3. PMC   5375161 . PMID   28192644.
  24. Ziv A, Masarwa R, Perlman A, Ziv D, Matok I (March 2018). "Pregnancy Outcomes Following Exposure to Quinolone Antibiotics – a Systematic-Review and Meta-Analysis". Pharm. Res. 35 (5): 109. doi:10.1007/s11095-018-2383-8. PMID   29582196. S2CID   4724821.
  25. 1 2 "TOXNET: Levofloxacin". toxnet.nlm.nih.gov. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  26. Bradley JS, Byington CL, Shah SS, Alverson B, Carter ER, Harrison C, et al. (2011). "The management of community-acquired pneumonia in infants and children older than 3 months of age: clinical practice guidelines by the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America". Clin. Infect. Dis. 53 (7): e25–76. doi: 10.1093/cid/cir531 . PMC   7107838 . PMID   21880587.
  27. Noel GJ, Bradley JS, Kauffman RE (October 2007). "Comparative safety profile of levofloxacin in 2523 children with a focus on four specific musculoskeletal disorders". Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. 26 (10): 879–91. doi:10.1097/INF.0b013e3180cbd382. PMID   17901792. S2CID   26457648.
  28. Wispelwey B, Schafer KR (November 2010). "Fluoroquinolones in the management of community-acquired pneumonia in primary care". Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 8 (11): 1259–71. doi:10.1586/eri.10.110. PMID   21073291. S2CID   207217824.
  29. 1 2 Lafredo SC, Foleno BD, Fu KP (1993). "Induction of resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae to quinolones in vitro". Chemotherapy. 39 (1): 36–9. doi:10.1159/000238971. PMID   8383031.
  30. Fu KP, Lafredo SC, Foleno B, Isaacson DM, Barrett JF, Tobia AJ, et al. (April 1992). "In vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of levofloxacin (l-ofloxacin), an optically active ofloxacin". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 36 (4): 860–866. doi:10.1128/aac.36.4.860. PMC   189464 . PMID   1503449.
  31. Blondeau JM (May 1999). "A review of the comparative in-vitro activities of 12 antimicrobial agents, with a focus on five new respiratory quinolones'". The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 43 Suppl B (90002): 1–11. doi: 10.1093/jac/43.suppl_2.1 . PMID   10382869.
  32. Cormican MG, Jones RN (January 1997). "Antimicrobial activity and spectrum of LB20304, a novel fluoronaphthyridone". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 41 (1): 204–211. doi:10.1128/AAC.41.1.204. PMC   163688 . PMID   8980783.
  33. Bosso JA (1998). "New and Emerging Quinolone Antibiotics". Journal of Infectious Disease Pharmacotherapy. 2 (4): 61–76. doi:10.1300/J100v02n04_06. ISSN   1068-7777.
  34. Yamane N, Jones RN, Frei R, Hoban DJ, Pignatari AC, Marco F (April 1994). "Levofloxacin in vitro activity: results from an international comparative study with ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin". J Chemother. 6 (2): 83–91. doi:10.1080/1120009X.1994.11741134. PMID   8077990.
  35. Hawkey PM (May 2003). "Mechanisms of quinolone action and microbial response". The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 51 (Suppl 1): 29–35. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkg207 . PMID   12702701.
  36. 1 2 3 "Levofloxacin 250mg and 500mg Tablets". UK electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC). Archived from the original on 26 August 2016.
  37. Zhang L, Wei MJ, Zhao CY, Qi HM (December 2008). "Determination of the inhibitory potential of 6 fluoroquinolones on CYP1A2 and CYP2C9 in human liver microsomes". Acta Pharmacol. Sin. 29 (12): 1507–14. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-7254.2008.00908.x . PMID   19026171.
  38. Schelleman H, Bilker WB, Brensinger CM, Han X, Kimmel SE, Hennessy S (November 2008). "Warfarin with fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides, or azole antifungals: interactions and the risk of hospitalization for gastrointestinal bleeding". Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. 84 (5): 581–8. doi:10.1038/clpt.2008.150. PMC   2574587 . PMID   18685566.
  39. Domagala JM (April 1994). "Structure-activity and structure-side-effect relationships for the quinolone antibacterials". The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 33 (4): 685–706. doi:10.1093/jac/33.4.685. PMID   8056688.
  40. Rodvold KA, Piscitelli SC (August 1993). "New oral macrolide and fluoroquinolone antibiotics: an overview of pharmacokinetics, interactions, and safety". Clin. Infect. Dis. 17 (Suppl 1): S192–9. doi:10.1093/clinids/17.supplement_1.s192. PMID   8399914.
  41. Tanaka M, Kurata T, Fujisawa C, et al. (October 1993). "Mechanistic study of inhibition of levofloxacin absorption by aluminum hydroxide". Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 37 (10): 2173–8. doi:10.1128/aac.37.10.2173. PMC   192246 . PMID   8257141.
  42. 1 2 3 Hall MM, Finnoff JT, Smith J (February 2011). "Musculoskeletal complications of fluoroquinolones: guidelines and precautions for usage in the athletic population". PM&R. 3 (2): 132–142. doi:10.1016/j.pmrj.2010.10.003. PMID   21333952. S2CID   207402343.
  43. Stephenson AL, Wu W, Cortes D, Rochon PA (September 2013). "Tendon Injury and Fluoroquinolone Use: A Systematic Review". Drug Safety. 36 (9): 709–721. doi:10.1007/s40264-013-0089-8. PMID   23888427. S2CID   24948660.
  44. Khaliq Y, Zhanel GG (June 2003). "Fluoroquinolone-associated tendinopathy: a critical review of the literature". Clinical Infectious Diseases. 36 (11): 1404–1410. doi: 10.1086/375078 . PMID   12766835. S2CID   14917687.
  45. Kim GK (April 2010). "The Risk of Fluoroquinolone-induced Tendinopathy and Tendon Rupture: What Does The Clinician Need To Know?". The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. 3 (4): 49–54. PMC   2921747 . PMID   20725547.
  46. Jones SC, Sorbello A, Boucher RM (October 2011). "Fluoroquinolone-associated myasthenia gravis exacerbation: evaluation of postmarketing reports from the US FDA adverse event reporting system and a literature review". Drug Safety. 34 (10): 839–847. doi:10.2165/11593110-000000000-00000. PMID   21879778. S2CID   7262267.
  47. "Fluoroquinolone antibiotics: New restrictions and precautions for use due to very rare reports of disabling and potentially long-lasting or irreversible side effects". Drug Safety Update. gov.uk.
  48. Carbon C (2001). "Comparison of side effects of levofloxacin versus other fluoroquinolones". Chemotherapy. 47 Suppl 3 (3): 9–14, discussion 44–8. doi:10.1159/000057839. PMID   11549784. S2CID   6139065.
  49. Liu HH (May 2010). "Safety profile of the fluoroquinolones: focus on levofloxacin". Drug Safety. 33 (5): 353–369. doi:10.2165/11536360-000000000-00000. PMID   20397737. S2CID   9014317.
  50. Karageorgopoulos DE, Giannopoulou KP, Grammatikos AP, Dimopoulos G, Falagas ME (March 2008). "Fluoroquinolones compared with beta-lactam antibiotics for the treatment of acute bacterial sinusitis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials". CMAJ. 178 (7): 845–854. doi:10.1503/cmaj.071157. PMC   2267830 . PMID   18362380.
  51. Lipsky BA, Baker CA (February 1999). "Fluoroquinolone toxicity profiles: a review focusing on newer agents". Clinical Infectious Diseases. 28 (2): 352–364. doi: 10.1086/515104 . PMID   10064255.
  52. Stahlmann R, Lode HM (July 2013). "Risks associated with the therapeutic use of fluoroquinolones". Expert Opinion on Drug Safety. 12 (4): 497–505. doi:10.1517/14740338.2013.796362. PMID   23651367. S2CID   22419225.
  53. Vardakas KZ, Konstantelias AA, Loizidis G, Rafailidis PI, Falagas ME (November 2012). "Risk factors for development of Clostridium difficile infection due to BI/NAP1/027 strain: a meta-analysis". Int. J. Infect. Dis. 16 (11): e768–73. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2012.07.010 . PMID   22921930.
  54. 1 2 3 McGregor JC, Allen GP, Bearden DT (October 2008). "Levofloxacin in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections and acute pyelonephritis". Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management. 4 (5): 843–853. doi: 10.2147/TCRM.S3426 . PMC   2621400 . PMID   19209267.
  55. Drlica K, Zhao X (1 September 1997). "DNA gyrase, topoisomerase IV, and the 4-quinolones". Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 61 (3): 377–92. doi:10.1128/mmbr.61.3.377-392.1997. PMC   232616 . PMID   9293187.
  56. Mutschler E, Schäfer-Korting M (2001). Arzneimittelwirkungen (in German) (8th ed.). Stuttgart: Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft. p. 814f. ISBN   978-3-8047-1763-3.
  57. "Statistical Review and Evaluation" (PDF). USA: FDA. 21 November 1996. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 October 2012.
  58. Morrissey I, Hoshino K, Sato K, Yoshida A, Hayakawa I, Bures MG, et al. (August 1996). "Mechanism of differential activities of ofloxacin enantiomers". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 40 (8): 1775–1784. doi:10.1128/AAC.40.8.1775. PMC   163416 . PMID   8843280.
  59. Kannappan V, Mannemala SS (7 June 2014). "Multiple Response Optimization of a HPLC Method for the Determination of Enantiomeric Purity of S-Ofloxacin". Chromatographia. 77 (17–18): 1203–1211. doi:10.1007/s10337-014-2699-4. S2CID   98491475.
  60. Kurt M (1966). Introduction to stereochemistry. W.A. Benjamín. OCLC   1097808137.
  61. Agranat I, Caner H (July 1999). "Intellectual property and chirality of drugs". Drug Discovery Today. 4 (7): 313–321. doi:10.1016/s1359-6446(99)01363-x. PMID   10377509.
  62. Mouzam MI, Dehghan MH, Asif S, Sahuji T, Chudiwal P (April 2011). "Preparation of a novel floating ring capsule-type dosage form for stomach specific delivery". Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal. 19 (2): 85–93. doi:10.1016/j.jsps.2011.01.004. PMC   3745050 . PMID   23960746.
  63. Bower JF, Rujirawanich J, Gallagher T (April 2010). "N-heterocycle construction via cyclic sulfamidates. Applications in synthesis". Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry. 8 (7): 1505–1519. doi:10.1039/b921842d. PMID   20237659.
  64. Sneader W (31 October 2005). Drug Discovery: A History. John Wiley & Sons. p. 295. ISBN   978-0-470-01552-0. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017.
  65. 1 2 3 4 5 Staff (2009). "New FDA Requirements for Post-Marketing Studies and Clinical Trials: Patent Strategy" (PDF). memorANDA. Fish and Richardson. p. VIII. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 August 2016. Cites US 5053407,"Optically active pyridobenzoxazine derivatives and anti-microbial use",issued 1 October 1991, assigned to Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd.
  66. 1 2 Atarashi S. "Research and Development of Quinolones in Daiichi Sankyo Co" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 October 2016.
  67. 1 2 3 Taylor K (October 2010). "Drug in Focus: Levofloxacin". GenericsWeb. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014.
  68. "FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA requires label changes to warn of risk for possibly permanent nerve damage from antibacterial fluoroquinolone drugs taken by mouth or by injection". US Food and Drug Administration. 16 January 2016. Archived from the original on 28 May 2016.
  69. Tunheim JR. "Levaquin MDL". US Courts. Archived from the original on 24 November 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
  70. Toutant C (6 July 2009). "Litigation Over Johnson & Johnson Antibiotic Levaquin Designated N.J. Mass Tort". New Jersey Law Journal.
  71. 1 2 Fisk MC, Hawkins B (1 November 2012). "Johnson & Johnson Settles 845 Levaquin Lawsuits". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on 8 March 2017.
  72. Fisk MC, Hawkins B (1 November 2012). "Johnson & Johnson Settles 845 Levaquin Lawsuits". Businessweek. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012.
  73. "Levaquin MDL | United States District Court – District of Minnesota, United States District Court – District of Minnesota". Archived from the original on 26 October 2012.