The quinolones: past, present, and future.

The quinolone class of antimicrobial agents has generated considerable interest since its discovery >40 years ago. Substantial progress has been made in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the action of quinolones against pathogenic bacteria, the induction of resistance to quinolones in these organisms, and the potential of each quinolone compound to induce toxicity in treated patients. Here, these key discoveries are reviewed; the present indications approved by regulatory agencies are described in detail, with comments on adverse events caused by quinolones in treated patients; and speculation about the future of the quinolones is proffered, even though their future is difficult to predict, because many factors may affect their clinical usefulness.

Retrospective analysis of the safety profile of oral moxifloxacin in elderly patients enrolled in clinical trials.

Background And Objective: As aging is associated with physiological changes, including renal and hepatic insufficiency, and a higher risk of drug interactions, special attention needs to be directed towards the safety of medications in the elderly. The objective of this analysis was to evaluate the safety of oral moxifloxacin in elderly patients who were enrolled in clinical trials and to compare these results to those of other commonly used antibacterials.

Methods: Safety data from 27 prospective, randomised, comparative phase II/III trials of oral moxifloxacin included in the Bayer clinical trial database were pooled and analysed by age group (<65 years of age, 65-74 years of age, > or = 75 years of age) and by treatment group (moxifloxacin vs comparator).

Incidence, timing and site of infections among pancreas transplant recipients.

The incidence, timing and site of infections among the different categories of pancreas transplant recipients were investigated. Patients were divided into three groups: pancreas transplant alone (PTA), pancreas after kidney transplant (PAK), or simultaneous pancreas and kidney (SPK) transplants. Length of follow-up, time to death, pancreas graft survival, incidence, timing and site of bacterial infections were noted.

Aspergillus vertebral osteomyelitis after simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation.

Aspergillus osteomyelitis is a rare complication of invasive aspergillosis after organ transplantation. This is the report of a 46-year-old man who underwent a simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation, complicated by an Aspergillus osteomyelitis and diskitis of the lumbar spine. Prompt diagnosis with needle biopsy, followed by antifungal therapy using caspofungin, a new antifungal agent recommended for the treatment of refractory aspergillosis, in combination with amphotericin B and an early surgical intervention led to clinical resolution of the infection.