The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of moxifloxacin (Avelox, Bayer HealthCare), a once-daily antibiotic used to treat complicated intra-abdominal infections in adults. Moxifloxacin is the only fluoroquinolone approved for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections as monotherapy. This testimony became the sixth for the drug; last June, the list of indications was supplemented by complicated infections of the skin and soft tissues.

Currently, moxifloxacin can be used to treat adult patients with polymicrobial aetiology caused by Escherichia coli, Bacteroides fragilis, Streptococcus anginosus , Streptococcus constellatus, Enterococcus faecalis, Proteus mirabilis, Clostridium perfringens, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Peptostreptococcus spp. In case of illness, injury or surgery, microorganisms from the gastrointestinal tract can enter the surrounding tissue and cause infection. About 3.5 million cases of such infections occur each year in the United States. In many people, a complicated intra-abdominal infection develops a second time with appendicitis.

The FDA made its decision based on the results of a clinical trial involving patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections, such as peritonitis, abscess, perforated appendicitis, and intestinal perforation. Sequential therapy with moxifloxacin 400 mg once a day, first intravenously and then orally for 5 to 14 days, has also been effective, such as intravenous therapy with piperacillin / tazobactam (Zosyn, Wyeth) 4 times a day , then oral therapy with amoxicillin / clavulanate 2 once a day. Moxifloxacin has led to the eradication of the main pathogens of complicated intra-abdominal infections - E. coli, B.fragilis.

The study involved 681 patients, of whom 379 were assessed for their clinical efficacy. The effectiveness of treatment with moxifloxacin was 79.8%, the comparison medicines - 78.1%.

The drug is available in tablet form and as an intravenous administration. Moxifloxacin is contraindicated during pregnancy, breastfeeding and in children under 18 years of age. Convulsions may occur as an adverse reaction to the medication. Many antacids and multivitamin preparations can affect the absorption of moxifloxacin, which reduces its effectiveness.

More information about the drug can be obtained at AveloxUSA.com.