ORAL CIPROFLOXACIN FOR TREATMENT OF SEVERE INFECTIONS

Twenty adult patients-with severe infections were treated with oral ci profloxacin, 500 or 750 mg twice daily, Treatment ranged from 8 to 25 days. Efficacy was good: 14 patients (70%) were cured, four (20%) impr oved and there were only two (10%) failures. Tolerance was very satisf actory, the most common side-effects being mild gastrointestinal sympt oms (three patients). Only one adverse laboratory result was observed: a transient rise in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels. None o f the adverse effects led to discontinuation of treatment. Thus, cipro floxacin presents as a promising drug for treatment of severe infectio ns caused by susceptible organisms when ambulatorial therapy, at least during a large part of the treatment, is possible and desirable.