IMPACT OF OFLOXACIN USED PROPHYLACTICALLY IN NEUTROPENIC PATIENTS ON DEVELOPMENT OF RESISTANCE

The association between consumption of ofloxacin as prophylaxis for fe brile neutropenia and incidence of gram-negative bacteremia and resist ance development in Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was studied in a national referral cancer center. Despite increasing consu mption of ofloxacin, from 0 g per year in 1990 to 2350 g per year in 1 996, no increase in resistance in Enterobacteriaceae was observed. The overall incidence of resistance to quinolones was 2.8%. Only two oflo xacin-resistant Escherichia coli strains were observed within 8 years. However, the incidence of resistance by P. aeruginosa against ofloxac in during the observation period was 6.4%-21.0%. Increasing consumptio n of ofloxacin did not cause significant changes in resistance within the previous 8 years in gram-negative bacilli, with the exception of A cinetobacter species, in our cancer center.