Tracking Susceptibility and Reducing Resistance - Fluoroquinolones at the Forefront in the Fight Against Bacterial Pathogens

29 March, 2018

Question 12

Could you describe the current situation in regard to fluoroquinolone resistance rates for the major respiratory tract pathogens?

 

The major RTI pathogens are S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis (M. catarrhalis ). Recent European results showed that for all species the fluoroquinolones achieved the highest overall susceptibility rate (92.8%) compared with 60.5% for clarithromycin 85.7% for amoxicillin-clavulanate and 89.6% for cefuroxime. Among S. pneumoniae, 99.3% were susceptible to levofloxacin and moxifloxacin. H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis were almost 100% susceptible to the fluoroquinolones (14). When fluoroquinolone-resistant H. influenzae is reported, it is more likely to appear in specific patient subgroups such as those with chronic infectious diseases, including patients with either COPD or cystic fibrosis (CF).