Intravenous ceftriaxone is superior to oral norfloxacin in acute settings.
Bacterial infections are quite common in cirrhotic patients who present with gastrointestinal hemorrhage (GIH) — 25% to 65% of such patients present with infections or develop them during subsequent hospitalization. Currently, cirrhotic patients with GIH usually receive either a quinolone or a cephalosporin; however, recent findings have suggested a rise in quinolone-resistant infections in this population.
In this randomized controlled trial, researchers compared the efficacy of oral norfloxacin with intravenous ceftriaxone for bacterial prophylaxis. They enrolled 111 cirrhotic patients who presented with GIH to four Spanish hospitals from 2000 through 2004. Patients with histories of hepatoma, recent antibiotic use, HIV infection, or signs…