SINGLE-DRUG ORAL ANTIBACTERIAL PROPHYLAXIS WITH OFLOXACIN IN BMT RECIPIENTS

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of a new oral fluoroquinolone, of loxacin (200 mg twice daily), as antibacterial prophylaxis after BMT i n a non-comparative prospective study of patients nursed in either LAF plastic isolators or HEPA filtered single rooms. Of the 101 evaluable patients who were neutropenic (< 500 x 10(6)/l) for a median duration of 20 days, 92 (91%) had febrile episodes of varying length and cause s. Infections were documented in 34 patients, of whom 14 had proven ba cterial infection (13 with bacteremia and one with pneumonia). Mortali ty rate within 6 weeks after transplant was 6%. Only one patient died from bacterial infection. Univariate analysis using an array of potent ially prognostic factors including the type of isolation was not helpf ul in identifying significant variables for predicting the development of documented infection. Tolerance was excellent. Oral ofloxacin was associated with a relatively low incidence of documented bacterial inf ection and related mortality, although it did not obviate the need for frequent empiric antimicrobial therapy due to a high incidence of feb rile episodes.