SHORT-REPORT - PEFLOXACIN DOES NOT POTENTIATED QUININE EFFICACY AGAINST PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM MALARIA

Twenty-four patients with severe Plasmodium falciparum infection at th e Kamenge Hospital in Burundi were enrolled in a double-blind study co mparing the efficacy of a seven-day regimen of intravenous quinine alo ne or in combination with pefloxacin. The aim of this study was to ass ess whether pefloxacin modified chloroquine efficacy or its uptake by infected erythrocytes as shown with other antimalarials. Pefloxacin di d not modify the antimalaria activity of quinine, in terms of speed of parasite or fever clearance. Moreover, pefloxacin does not appear to interact with quinine uptake by erythrocytes in humans.