ORAL CIPROFLOXACIN FOR TREATMENT OF CHRONIC OSTEOMYELITIS

Seventeen adult patients with chronic osteomyelitis were treated with oral ciprofloxacin, 750 mg twice daily. Treatment ranged from 28 to 25 4 days. Efficacy was considered to be good, based upon clinical resolu tion observed in 13 patients (76%). Clinical and microbiological failu re was observed in 3 patients (18%), and there was one case of reinfec tion. Tolerance was very satisfactory, since the adverse reactions wer e mild and transitory; these occurred in 7 patients (41%), being cutan eous rash in 4 patients and diarrhoea in 3 patients. No patient had to discontinue treatment. Thus, oral ciprofloxacin may be a useful optio n for the prolonged treatment of chronic osteomyelitis, provided that it is always associated with surgical debridement. Due to the probable development of ciprofloxacin resistance in the S. aureus multiresista nt strain, already observed in two patients in the present investigati on, it is suggested that for the treatment of such infections another drug with antistaphylococcal activity should be associated with the ci profloxacin.