EFFICACY OF OFLOXACIN FOR THE TREATMENT OF PNEUMONIA, SKIN AND SKIN-STRUCTURE INFECTION, AND URINARY-TRACT INFECTION IN AN ELDERLY POPULATION

Ofloxacin therapy in common infections of the elderly was studied pros pectively in acute and chronic care facilities. Forty-six acute care s ubjects over 55 years of age were randomized to receive ofloxacin, adm inistered either intravenously or orally, and compared with standard t herapy with ceftriaxone or ceftazidime. Parenteral therapy was changed to oral therapy when clinically appropriate. Long-term care subjects were enrolled into an open study of oral ofloxacin. The mean age of su bjects was over 80 years. For the acute care facility arm, the clinica l and bacteriologic outcomes were similar in both ofloxacin and standa rd therapy groups. For the open study in long-term care patients, 93% were cured or improved. Assessments of mental and functional status we re largely unsuccessful for subjects enrolled into the comparative arm because of initial severity of illness. For the noncomparative arm, a ntimicrobial therapy was associated with a significant improvement in mental status measurements. Ofloxacin is effective therapy for the tre atment of pneumonia, skin and skin structure infection, and urinary tr act infection in elderly subjects. The option of oral therapy may prov ide a benefit when compared with other regimens in this population.