Actividad de la gatifloxacina sobre patógenos del tracto respiratorio

Background. In Mexico the respiratory pathogens are resistant to various antimicrobials. Gatifloxacin is a new synthetic antimicrobial agent that has demonstrated good activity against different respiratory pathogens. Material and methods. As From August 1999 to January 2000 in Mexico City 201 strains have been studied out from which correspond to: 35 Haemophilus influenzae, 32 Streptococcus pneumoniae, 25 Moraxella catarrhalis, 55 Streptococcus pyogenes and 54 Staphylococcus aureus. Such strains were isolated from ambulatory and hospitalized patients with respiratory tract infections. To asses GAT activity vs other antimicrobials were tested by MIC₉₀ with Steers replicator according to NCCLS. Results. Gatifloxacin was the antimicrobial that presented the highest susceptibility percentage towards the evaluated respiratory pathogens from 96.7-100%, ciprofloxacin 90.2-100%, ampicillin 37-94.2%, amoxicillin 48-98.2%, cephalexin 68-92.6%, cefuroxime 87.5-98.2%, cefotaxime 80-92%, ceftriaxone 84.4-100%, cefepime 87.5-100%, ceftazidime 90.6-100%, cefprozil 90.6-98.2%, imipenem 93.8-100% and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid 81.3-100%. Gatifloxacin proved to be two to ten times stronger than ciprofloxacin. Conclusions. Based on the obtained results in this study and on the previous clinical experience gatifloxacin is highly recommended in the treatment of the respiratory tract infections.