Levofloxacin

Levofloxacin is an advanced generation fluoroquinolone antibiotic, marketed by Ortho-McNeil under the trade name Levaquin in the US. In Europe, it is marketed by Sanofi-Aventis under the trade name of "Tavanic", and in Asia it is marketed by Daiichi under the trade name of Cravit. Levofloxacin has been launched in the Japanese market since 1993, and thus have had more than 12 years of experience in efficacy and safety globally. Chemically, levofloxacin is the S-enantiomer (L-isomer) of ofloxacin, and has approximately twice the potency of ofloxacin.

Levofloxacin is effective against a number of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Because of its broad spectrum of action, levofloxacin is frequently prescribed empirically for a wide range of infections (eg. pneumonia, urinary tract infection) before the specific causal organism is known. If the causal organism is identified, levofloxacin may be discontinued and the patient may be switched to an antibiotic with a narrower spectrum of activity. Levofloxacin is currently the only respiratory fluoroquinolone approved by the US FDA for the treatment of nosocomial pneumonia.

As approved by the US FDA

Gram-positive bacteria

  • Enterococcus faecalis (many strains are only moderately susceptible)
  • Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible strains)
  • Staphylococcus epidermidis (methicillin-susceptible strains)
  • Staphylococcus saprophyticus
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae (including Multidrug-resistant strains, MDRSP)
  • Streptococcus pyogenes

    • Gram-negative bacteria

  • Enterobacter cloacae
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • Escherichia coli
  • Legionella pneumophila
  • Serratia marcescens
  • Haemophilus influenzae
  • Moraxella catarrhalis
  • Haemophilus parainfluenzae
  • Proteus mirabilis
  • Campylobacter

    Other

  • Chlamydia pneumoniae
  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae
  • Peptostreptococcus sp.
  • More bacterial coverage is available as per presribing information for levofloxacin in Japan (Cravit)

    • © Medic8 ® All Rights Reserved.