In Vitro Activity of Levofloxacin and FK-037 against Aerobic Isolates from Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis

Abstract

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is a potentially fatal complication of ascites, most often caused by the Enterobacteriaceae or streptococci. We have evaluated the in vitro activity of FK-037, a new cephalosporin, cefotaxime, cefpirome, ceftazidime, levofloxacin, and ofloxacin against a collection of 124 isolates from patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Levofloxacin (< 2 mg/L) was active against all isolates and ofloxacin (< 2 mg/L) against 98.4% of isolates. The cephalosporins (< 8 mg/L) were less active against cefpirome =95.4%, FK-037 =94.4%, and cefotaxime and ceftazidime =91.1%. Given the high mortality associated with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, clinical studies of the quinolones (specifically of levofloxacin) and the alternative cephalosporins presented for treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis appears warranted.