Gatifloxacin Efficacious for Treating Enteric Fever in Nepal

Although gatifloxacin and chloramphenicol were similarly efficacious, gatifloxacin requires a shorter course, causes fewer adverse effects, and costs less.

Enteric fever (typhoid and paratyphoid fevers) remains common in developing countries. The underlying pathogens have become increasingly resistant to chloramphenicol (once the standard treatment) and other antibiotics, limiting the options for therapy. Might gatifloxacin, which has shown promise in two recent trials (PLoS ONE 2007; 2:e2 and PLoS ONE 2008; 3:e2188), be a possibility? To find out, investigators conducted an open-label superiority trial in Nepal, where the prevalence of chloramphenicol resistance is low.

Patients aged ≥2 years with uncomplicated enteric fever were randomized to receive gatifloxacin (10 mg/kg once daily for 7 days) or chloramphenicol (75/mg/kg/day in 4 divided doses for 14 days). After initial physician evaluati…

Reviewing Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine