Efficacy and safety of intravenous and/or oral levonadifloxacin in the management of secondary bacterial pulmonary infections in COVID-19 patients: findings of a retrospective, real-world, multi-center study

Background: Owing to dysregulated immune response, secondary bacterial pulmonary infections involving both gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens are common in COVID-19 patients and are often associated with higher mortality. This is a first ever report on the safety and efficacy of levonadifloxacin in the treatment of secondary bacterial pulmonary infections in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.Methods: This multi-center, retrospective, post-marketing and real-world study assessed the safety and efficacy of IV and/or oral levonadifloxacin in the treatment of bacterial infections encountered in COVID-19 patients. Data for 154 male/female patients above 18 years of age who received levonadifloxacin (injectable and/or oral) was collected from 44 participating sites. Study outcomes were the clinical and microbial success at the end of therapy. Safety was assessed based on clinical and laboratory adverse events.Results: Among the 154 patients assessed, 121 (78.6%) were males and 142 (92.2%) were hospitalized. Majority of the patients (119) received all-IV therapy while 11 patients were prescribed with IV followed by oral regimen. All-oral therapy was received by 24 patients. The most common co-morbid conditions were diabetes (19.6%) and hypertension (19.2%). Post-treatment with levonadifloxacin, clinical and microbial success rates were 96.8% and 97.0% respectively.Conclusions: Levonadifloxacin showed promising safety and efficacy when used as IV and/or oral therapy for the treatment of secondary bacterial pulmonary infections in COVID-19 patients. Clinically relevant features of levonadifloxacin such as availability of both IV and oral options, broad spectrum coverage and reassuring safety in patients with significant co-morbidities could help simplify the management.Trial registration no. CTRI/2020/09/028152 [Registered on: 30/09/2020]