Levofloxacin at the usual dosage to treat bone and joint infections: a cohort analysis

Abstract

Fluoroquinolones are recommended for the treatment of bone and joint infections (BJIs), and levofloxacin is commonly used in this setting. However, no pre-marketing clinical study has supported its use, especially its dosage, for treating BJIs. This study aimed to assess the benefit–risk ratio of levofloxacin administered orally at a standard dosage of 500 mg once daily (OD) in a cohort of patients with BJIs. The medical records of patients admitted to a large French teaching hospital for BJI over a 1-year period and managed by a multidisciplinary team were reviewed. Patient data were recorded on a standardised form and the outcome was assessed at the end of antibiotic treatment and after 1-year of follow-up. A total of 230 patients were included, of whom 79 were treated with an antibiotic regimen including levofloxacin (34%). Most BJIs (97%) were surgically treated by wound debridement and/or removal or replacement of the infected device. Adverse drug reactions to levofloxacin leading to treatment discontinuation occurred in three patients (4%). The antibiotic treatment duration was significantly longer in patients treated with levofloxacin compared with other antibiotic regimens (median, 13 weeks vs. 6 weeks). Post-treatment outcomes were considered favourable (total or partial recovery, including orthopaedics aftermath) in 89–93% of patients, with no significant difference between treatment groups. In conclusion, oral levofloxacin at 500 mg OD is a well-tolerated and efficacious antibiotic treatment for BJIs. Our approach of following-up all treated patients is a useful way to validate specific clinical practices.