Levofloxacin
Please note: This is for information only.
Refer to local guidelines for treatment recommendations.
- A quinolone antibiotic similar to ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin.
- Excellent bioavailability (>90%) following oral administration.
- Excellent tissue penetration.
- Usual adult dose 500 mg po once daily (increased to BD for severe infection)
- Dose reduction necessary in renal impairment
- IV levofloxacin is NOT available in this hospital.
- Tablets disperse in water after 10 mins if swallowing is difficult.
- Use with caution in epileptics.
- Caution in elderly patients on steroids - risk of achilles tendonitis/rupture
- High risk of Clostridium difficile antibiotic-associated diarrhoea if prescribed for elderly inpatients.
Main indications
Active against most strains of:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae (but can't be relied on for pneumococcal septicaemia - add benzylpencillin)
- Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis
- Legionella
- Atypical pneumonia pathogens (Mycoplasma, Chlamydia)
- Coliforms (E.coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Proteus)
- Staph.aureus (but NOT MRSA)
- Pseudomonas (slightly less active than ciprofloxacin)
Not active against most strains of:
- MRSA
- Enterococci
- Anaerobes (Clostridium, Bacteroides)