SHORT-COURSE OF OFLOXACIN FOR TREATMENT OF MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT TYPHOID

In recent years, multiresistant strains of Salmonella typhi have emerg ed in many tropical countries. These strains remain highly sensitive t o the fluoroquinolone antibiotics, although use of these drugs by chil dren is considered contraindicated because of their reported toxicity in the cartilage of experimental animals. In a paired, open, randomize d study during an epidemic of multidrug-resistant typhoid in southern Vietnam, two short-course ofloxacin regimens (15 mg/kg daily for 3 day s and 10 mg/kg daily for 5 days) were compared for the treatment of un complicated typhoid fever. Of 438 patients enrolled (of whom 286 were less than or equal to 14 years old), 228 had blood cultures positive f or Salmonella species (S. typhi, 207; S. paratyphi A, 19; and S. chole raesuis, 2). There was one treatment failure in a patient who took onl y one dose of ofloxacin. Otherwise, both regimens were completely effe ctive; there were no proven carriers, and there was no evidence of tox icity, particularly in children. A 3-day course of ofloxacin proved to be safe and highly effective in the treatment of uncomplicated, multi drug-resistant typhoid fever.