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Tuberculous meningitis remains highly lethal. In this trial, an intensified regimen of levofloxacin and higher-dose rifampin added to standard therapy was compared with standard antituberculosis therapy alone. The intensified regimen did not result in a higher survival rate. Early treatment with antituberculosis chemotherapy and adjunctive treatment with glucocorticoids reduce the rate of death and disability from tuberculous meningitis, but the disease still kills or disables almost half the patients with the condition. 1 , 2 The current guidelines recommend treatment with four antituberculosis drugs for at least the first 2 months of therapy, followed by treatment with two drugs (rifampin and isoniazid) for an additional 7 to 10 months. 3 , 4 However, these recommendations are based on data from pulmonary tuberculosis and do not take into account the differential ability of antituberculosis drugs to penetrate the brain. Rifampin is considered to . . .

Treatment of complicated urinary-tract infections is challenging due to rising antimicrobial resistance. We assessed the efficacy and safety of ceftolozane-tazobactam, a novel antibacterial with Gram-negative activity, in the treatment of patients with complicated lower-urinary-tract infections or pyelonephritis. ASPECT-cUTI was a randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, non-inferiority trial done in 209 centres in 25 countries. Between July, 2011, and September, 2013, hospital inpatients aged 18 years or older who had pyuria and a diagnosis of a complicated lower-urinary-tract infection or pyelonephritis were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive intravenous 1·5 g ceftolozane-tazobactam every 8 h or intravenous high-dose (750 mg) levofloxacin once daily for 7 days. The randomisation schedule was computer generated in blocks of four and stratified by study site. The next allocation was obtained by the study site pharmacist via an interactive voice-response system. The primary endpoint was a composite of microbiological eradication and clinical cure 5–9 days after treatment in the microbiological modified intention-to-treat (MITT) population, with a non-inferiority margin of 10%. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, numbers NCT01345929 and NCT01345955. Of 1083 patients enrolled, 800 (73·9%), of whom 656 (82·0%) had pyelonephritis, were included in the microbiological MITT population. Ceftolozane-tazobactam was non-inferior to levofloxacin for composite cure (306 [76·9%] of 398 vs 275 [68·4%] of 402, 95% CI 2·3–14·6) and, as the lower bound of the two-sided 95% CI around the treatment difference was positive and greater than zero, superiority was indicated. Adverse event profiles were similar in the two treatment groups and were mainly non-serious. Treatment with ceftolozane-tazobactam led to better responses than high-dose levofloxacin in patients with complicated lower-urinary-tract infections or pyelonephritis. Cubist Pharmaceuticals.

In this randomized, controlled trial involving children with household exposure to multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, levofloxacin led to a lower incidence of tuberculosis than placebo, but the difference was not significant.

Prevention of drug-resistant tuberculosis is a global health priority. However, trials evaluating the effectiveness of treating infection among contacts of persons with drug-resistant tuberculosis are lacking. We conducted a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial comparing 6 months of daily levofloxacin (weight-based doses) with placebo to treat infection. The trial population comprised household contacts of persons with bacteriologically confirmed rifampicin-resistant or multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis in Vietnam. Contacts of any age with a positive tuberculin skin test or immunologic impairment were eligible. The primary end point was bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis within 30 months. Secondary end points included grade 3 or 4 adverse events, death from any cause, and acquired drug resistance. Of 3948 persons screened for eligibility, 61 (1.5%) had coprevalent tuberculosis (defined as active tuberculosis disease diagnosed before randomization) and 2041 underwent randomization. Of these 2041 participants, 1995 (97.7%) completed 30 months of follow-up, had a primary end-point event, or died. Confirmed tuberculosis occurred in 6 participants (0.6%) in the levofloxacin group and 11 (1.1%) in the placebo group (incidence rate ratio, 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.19 to 1.62); this difference was not significant. There was little difference in grade 3 or 4 adverse events between the two groups (risk difference, 1.0 percentage point; 95% CI, -0.3 to 2.4). Adverse events of any grade were reported in 306 participants (31.9%) taking levofloxacin and 125 (13.0%) taking placebo (risk difference, 18.9 percentage points; 95% CI, 14.2 to 23.6). No acquired fluoroquinolone resistance was observed. Although the incidence of tuberculosis was lower in the levofloxacin group than in the placebo group at 30 months, the difference was not significant. (Funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia; VQUIN MDR Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number, ACTRN12616000215426.).

Abstract Rationale Levofloxacin (LFX) and moxifloxacin (MXF) are the two most frequently recommended fluoroquinolones for treatment of patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). However, studies comparing the effectiveness of LFX and MXF among patients with MDR-TB are lacking. Objectives To compare the effectiveness of LFX and MXF in terms of culture conversion after 3 months of treatment for MDR-TB. Methods In this prospective multicenter randomized open label trial, we randomly assigned 182 patients with MDR-TB (sensitive to LFX and MXF) to receive either LFX (750 mg/day; 90 patients) or MXF (400 mg/day; 92 patients) with a background drug regimen. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who achieved sputum culture conversion at 3 months of treatment. Secondary outcomes were time to culture conversion and time to smear conversion, with data censored at 3 months, and the proportions of adverse drug reactions. Measurements and Main Results At 3 months of treatment, 68 (88.3%) of the 77 patients in the LFX group and 67 (90.5%) of the 74 in the MXF group showed conversion to negative sputum cultures (odds ratio for LFX compared with MXF, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.27–2.20). Adverse drug reactions were reported in six patients (7.7%) in the LFX group and four (5.2%) in the MXF group (P = 0.75). Conclusions The choice of LFX or MXF for treatment of patients with MDR-TB may not affect sputum culture conversion at 3 months of treatment. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 01055145).

Recommended treatment for travelers' diarrhea includes the combination of an antibiotic, usually a fluoroquinolone or azithromycin, and loperamide for rapid resolution of symptoms. However, adverse events, postdose nausea with high-dose azithromycin, effectiveness of single-dose rifaximin, and emerging resistance to front-line agents are evidence gaps underlying current recommendations. A randomized, double-blind trial was conducted in 4 countries (Afghanistan, Djibouti, Kenya, and Honduras) between September 2012 and July 2015. US and UK service members with acute watery diarrhea were randomized and received single-dose azithromycin (500 mg; 106 persons), levofloxacin (500 mg; 111 persons), or rifaximin (1650 mg; 107 persons), in combination with loperamide (labeled dosing). The efficacy outcomes included clinical cure at 24 hours and time to last unformed stool. Clinical cure at 24 hours occurred in 81.4%, 78.3%, and 74.8% of the levofloxacin, azithromycin, and rifaximin arms, respectively. Compared with levofloxacin, azithromycin was not inferior (P = .01). Noninferiority could not be shown with rifaximin (P = .07). At 48 and 72 hours, efficacy among regimens was equivalent (approximately 91% at 48 and 96% at 72 hours). The median time to last unformed stool did not differ between treatment arms (azithromycin, 3.8 hours; levofloxacin, 6.4 hours; rifaximin, 5.6 hours). Treatment failures were uncommon (3.8%, 4.4%, and 1.9% in azithromycin, levofloxacin, and rifaximin arms, respectively) (P = .55). There were no differences between treatment arms with postdose nausea, vomiting, or other adverse events. Single-dose azithromycin, levofloxacin, and rifaximin with loperamide were comparable for treatment of acute watery diarrhea. NCT01618591.

To compare the safety of intracameral levofloxacin and intracameral cefazolin in patients undergoing cataract surgery. In this prospective, double-blind, randomized study, patients with senile cataracts who were undergoing phacoemulsification were assigned to receive intracameral levofloxacin (0.1 ml/0.5 mg; Cravit® 0.5%; Santen Pharmaceutical Ltd.) or intracameral cefazolin (0.1 ml/1 mg; generic). The endpoints were the occurrence of endophthalmitis during the 3-month follow-up period, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), the presence of anterior chamber (AC) inflammation with grading of AC cells and presence of flare, along with intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness (CCT), central foveal thickness (CFT), and cell density. A total of 50 patients (50 eyes) were enrolled, randomized, and completed the study. No cases of endophthalmitis were reported in either treatment group. There were no significant differences in BCVA, AC inflammation, IOP, CCT, CFT, or cell density between the groups at any timepoint. Importantly, no dose errors or serious adverse events were reported in either group. This study provides proof of concept that prophylactic intracameral levofloxacin (0.1 ml/0.5 mg) may have a comparable safety profile to intracameral cefazolin (0.1 ml/1 mg) in patients undergoing cataract surgery. Intracameral levofloxacin (0.1 ml/0.5 mg) may offer a viable alternative to cefazolin (0.1 ml/1 mg), particularly for patients with penicillin allergies, while also reducing the risk of dilution errors by eliminating the need for reconstitution. Larger, multicenter studies are warranted to confirm the efficacy of levofloxacin (0.1 ml/0.5 mg) in preventing endophthalmitis. NCT06710977, 02/12/2024, retrospectively registered.

Background We concurrently developed a prospective study to assess clinical outcomes among patients receiving 9-month bedaquiline (BDQ)-containing regimens, aiming to provide valuable data on the use of this short-course regimen in China. Methods This open-label, randomized, controlled, multicenter, non-inferiority trial was conducted at sixteen hospitals, and enrolled participants aged 18 years and older with pulmonary rifampicin/multidrug tuberculosis. Participants were randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio. Individuals within the standard-regimen group received 6 months of BDQ, linezolid, levofloxacin, clofazimine, and cycloserine plus 12 months of levofloxacin, and any three potentially effective drugs from clofazimine, cycloserine pyrazinamide, ethambutol and protionamide, whereas individuals within shorter-regimen group received 9 months of BDQ, linezolid, levofloxacin, clofazimine and cycloserine. The primary outcome was the percentage of participants with a composite unfavorable outcome (treatment failure, death, treatment discontinuation, or loss to follow-up) by the end of the treatment course after randomization in the modified intention-to-treat population. The noninferiority margin was 10%. This trial was registered with www.chictr.org.cn , ChiCTR2000029012. Results Between Jan 1, 2020, and Dec 31, 2023, 264 were screened and randomly assigned, 132 of 264 participants were assigned to the standard-regimen group and 132 were assigned to the shorter-regimen. Thirty-three (12.55%) of 264 participants were excluded from the modified intention-to-treat analysis. As a result, 231 participants were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis (116 in the standard-regimen group and 115 in the shorter-regimen group).In the modified intention-to-treat population, unfavorable outcomes were reported in 19 (16.5%) of 115 participants for whom the outcome was assessable in the shorter-regimen group and 26 (22.4%) of 116 participants in the standard care group (risk difference 5.9 percentage points (97.5% CI − 5.8 to 17.5)). One death was reported in the standard-regimen group. The incidence of QTcF prolongation in the shorter-regimen group (22.6%, 26/115) was similar to the standard-regimen group (24.1%, 28/116). Conclusions The 9-month, all-oral regimen is safe and efficacious for the treatment of pulmonary rifampicin/multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. The high incidence of QTc prolongation associated with the use of BDQ highlights the urgent need of routine electrocardiogram monitoring under treatment with BDQ-containing regimens in the Chinese population.

Vonoprazan, a novel and potent acid suppressant, has recently been incorporated into Helicobacter pylori eradication regimens. However, the data on combination of vonoprazan with levofloxacin remains scarce. This study represents one of the first evaluations comparing 7-day and 14-day once-daily regimens containing vonoprazan, levofloxacin, clarithromycin-MR, and bismuth for H. pylori eradication in regions characterized by high clarithromycin and metronidazole resistance. Between March 2022 and December 2023, patients presenting with dyspepsia who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at a tertiary care hospital in Thailand were recruited. Those testing positive for H. pylori infection were randomly assigned to receive either a 7-day or 14-day once-daily regimen comprising vonoprazan 40 mg, clarithromycin-MR 1 g, levofloxacin 500 mg, and bismuth subsalicylate 1,048 mg. CYP3A4 polymorphism testing and antimicrobial susceptibility assessment (using either the Epsilometer test or the GenoType ® HelicoDR assay) were performed. Eradication was confirmed by a negative ¹³C-urea breath test conducted no sooner than four weeks after completing therapy. A total of 312 dyspeptic patients who underwent EGD were screened, and 102 (32.7%) were diagnosed with H. pylori infection. The study enrolled and randomized these patients into two treatment groups: 51 received the 7-day once-daily vonoprazan-based bismuth therapy, and 51 received the 14-day regimen. Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups, except for a higher prevalence of hypertension in the 7-day regimen group (49% vs. 27.5%, p  = 0.025). The eradication rates for the 7-day regimen were 88.2% (45/51) in the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis and 89.6% (43/48) in the per-protocol (PP) analysis. Similarly, the 14-day regimen achieved eradication rates of 88.2% (45/51) in the ITT analysis and 93.8% (45/48) in the PP analysis. The risk difference for eradication in the PP analysis was 4.17% (95% CI: -6.86 to 15.19, p  = 0.71). Adverse events were comparable between the two regimens, occurring in 35.3% (18/51) of patients in the 7-day regimen and 38.8% (19/51) in the 14-day regimen ( p  = 0.130). The most frequently reported adverse event was black stool (35.3% vs. 38.8%, p  = 0.130). Other adverse events included nausea and vomiting (15.7% vs. 22.5%, p  = 0.742), bitter taste (17.7% vs. 18.4%, p  = 1.000), and dizziness (7.8% vs. 6.1%, p  = 0.113). All adverse events resolved spontaneously without requiring medical intervention, and no serious adverse events were reported. The 14-day regimen demonstrated excellent eradication rate (> 90%) regardless of CYP3A4 polymorphisms. These findings suggest that vonoprazan, levofloxacin, clarithromycin-MR, and bismuth for 14 days is a promising alternative first-line treatment option, particularly in regions with high clarithromycin and metronidazole resistance.

Background Multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) presents a challenge for global TB control. Treating individuals with MDR-TB infection to prevent progression to disease could be an effective public health strategy. Young children are at high risk of developing TB disease following infection and are commonly infected by an adult in their household. Identifying young children with household exposure to MDR-TB and providing them with MDR-TB preventive therapy could reduce the risk of disease progression. To date, no trials of MDR-TB preventive therapy have been completed and World Health Organization guidelines suggest close observation with no active treatment. Methods The tuberculosis child multidrug-resistant preventive therapy (TB-CHAMP) trial is a phase III cluster randomised placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of levofloxacin in young child contacts of MDR-TB cases. The trial is taking place at three sites in South Africa where adults with MDR-TB are identified. If a child aged < 5 years lives in their household, we assess the adult index case, screen all household members for TB disease and evaluate any child aged < 5 years for trial eligibility. Eligible children are randomised by household to receive daily levofloxacin (15–20 mg/kg) or matching placebo for six months. Children are closely monitored for disease development, drug tolerability and adverse events. The primary endpoint is incident TB disease or TB death by one year after recruitment. We will enrol 1556 children from approximately 778 households with an average of two eligible children per household. Recruitment will run for 18–24 months with all children followed for 18 months after treatment. Qualitative and health economic evaluations are embedded in the trial. Discussion If the TB-CHAMP trial demonstrates that levofloxacin is effective in preventing TB disease in young children who have been exposed to MDR-TB and that it is safe, well tolerated, acceptable and cost-effective, we would expect that that this intervention would rapidly transfer into policy. Trial registration ISRCTN Registry, ISRCTN92634082 . Registered on 31 March 2016.