Question 3

You recently have reported the results of a study investigating 750 mg QD levofloxacin for 5 days in ABECB (7). Why did you feel there was a need for this high-dose therapy?

The evolution of our understanding of pharmacodynamics suggests that a higher dose of levofloxacin is associated with more rapid and extensive bacterial eradication. With improved bacterial eradication, the opportunity arises of shortening the duration of therapy without jeopardizing clinical outcomes. This leads to a win-win situation of improved bacterial killing with less antibacterial exposure possibly leading to a reduced likelihood of emergence of bacterial resistance. A shorter course of therapy is also likely to be associated with improved patient compliance.