Pharmacokinetic aspects of levofloxacin 500 mg once-daily during sequential intravenous/oral therapy in patients with lower respiratory tract infections

Levofloxacin is considered an effective antibiotic in the treatment of community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). A study was carried out on 17 in-patients to assess the pharmacokinetics of a 500 mg once-daily switch intravenous (i.v.)/oral regimen of levofloxacin in the treatment of LRTI patients. Blood samples were collected under steady-state conditions at appropriate intervals. Levofloxacin plasma concentrations were analysed by means of HPLC and pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using the WinNonlin pharmacokinetic software package. A lower clearance of levofloxacin ( or =99%) absolute oral bioavailability suggests that a comparable exposure to the iv regimen may be achieved after oral administration. The overall clinical success rate was 94.1%