Esperienza con ciprofloxacina impiegata in terapia sequenziale nella riacutizzazione della bronchite cronica nel paziente ospedalizzato

On 30 hospitalized, aged (>65 years old, mean age: 75,3) patients, both sexes, affected by acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (AECB), we have evaluated both clinically and microbiologically, the efficacy of ciprofloxacin "sequentially" administared (initial venous treatment followed by oral admi-nistration of the same drug). Ciprofloxacin has been given i.V., 200 mg twice-a-day for 5 days, followed by 5 more days of oral administration, 500 mg twice-a-day. Laboratory tests have been repeatedly performed, sputum bacteriology at T0, T4, T10 and T20 days. In the cultured 30 samples of sputum, 30 bacterial isolates were found which were considered responsible for the AECB: none of them was Ciprofloxacin-resistant. On the 4th day, 63,3% of the sputa resulted sterile; while Gram- pathogens were microbiologically all eradicated, the S.pneumoniae eradication was obtained only at the end of therapy. Total percentage of eradication, at the end of therapy was=86,6%, a result corresponding exactly to the clinical success/resolution of symptoms, the germs showed no resistance to Ciprofloxacin. Its "sequential" mode of use so represents a valuable indication for the treatment of AECB in the aged patients.