THE EFFECTS OF A FLUOROQUINOLONE ON THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTS

Growth and development were monitored for up to 42 months in nine neon ates to whom ciprofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone, was given in the neonat al period at a dosage of 20 mg/kg/day. Ciprofloxacin was used only as a 'life-saving' therapy in cases of sepsis produced by bacterial agent s resistant to other antibiotics. Two other groups of nine neonates, m atched by birth weight and gestational age, were studied as controls: one group with sepsis, which was effectively treated with cefotaxime a nd a group of healthy neonates. No statistically significant differenc es in growth and development between the groups were found during foll ow-up for 42 months. No osteoarticular problems or joint deformities w ere observed in the ciprofloxacin group. Ciprofloxacin appears to prov ide a therapeutic option as a 'life-saving' therapy for newborns with sepsis produced by multiply resistant organisms.