[Side effects and toxicity of new quinolones].

A review paper is presented treating of problems of organotoxicity, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity and adverse effects of quinolones, as well as their interaction with other drugs. Not considering some rather sporadic exceptions, quinolones are not regarded as safe in children up to the age of 14 and in pregnant and breast-feeding women. Compared to aminoglycosides, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, rifampicin and other antibacterial chemotherapeutics, the overall toxicity of quinolones is relatively low.

[Ofloxacin in the treatment of infections of the respiratory tract in older patients].

The authors submit a brief report on the results of treatment with ofloxacin in geriatric patients. They treated a total of 26 patients aged 60 to 87 years for bronchopneumonia (17 patients), acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (4 patients) and other infections of the airways (5 patients). Comorbidity was recorded in 22 patients (diabetes mellitus, chronic renal insufficiency and others).