Oral ciprofloxacin versus intravenous therapy with other non-quinolone agents: a study of 291 infections

Abstract

A retrospective comparison of oral ciprofloxacin in mono- or combination therapy versus standard intravenous (i.v.) therapy with non-quinolone agents was undertaken to evaluate efficacy and cost in actual clinical practice. The choice, dose and duration of antibiotic therapy was determined solely by the patients' physicians. The patients were treated for infections of the lower respiratory tract; urinary tract and skin (totalling 291 infections). The most frequent species isolated were Escherichia coli (21.6%), Staphylococcus aureus (12%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11.7%). No significant differences (p > 0.10) in the cure rates and duration of infection were observed when comparing oral ciprofloxacin only, versus standard i.v. therapy. The administration of simultaneous combination therapy resulted in a lower cure rate and longer infection, regardless of the site of infection. The duration of therapy required to show a cure or improvement was significantly shorter (p < 0.0001) for oral ciprofloxacin alone, than for i.v. therapy and ciprofloxacin combination therapies.