A Phase II study of the sterilising activities of ofloxacin, gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin in pulmonary tuberculosis

Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2008 Feb;12(2):128-38.

Abstract

Setting: Current treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) might be shortened by the incorporation of fluoroquinolones (FQs).

Objectives: A Phase II study aimed to assess the sterilising activities of three novel regimens containing FQs before a Phase III trial of a 4-month regimen containing gatifloxacin (GFX).

Design: A total of 217 newly diagnosed smear-positive patients were randomly allocated to one of four regimens: isoniazid (INH), pyrazinamide and rifampicin (RMP) with either ethambutol, GFX, moxifloxacin (MFX) or ofloxacin (OFX) for 2 months. At the end of the study, RMP and INH were given for 4 months. The rates of elimination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were compared in the regimens using non-linear mixed effects modelling of the serial sputum colony counts (SSCC) during the first 8 weeks.

Results: After adjustment for covariates, MFX substitution appeared superior during the early phase of a bi-exponential fall in colony counts, but significant and similar acceleration of bacillary elimination during the late phase occurred with both GFX and MFX (P = 0.002). Substitution of OFX had no effect. These findings were supported by estimates of time to conversion, using Cox regression, but there were no significant differences in proportions culture-negative at 8 weeks.

Conclusions: GFX and MFX improve the sterilising activity of regimens and might shorten treatment; their progression into Phase III trials therefore seems warranted.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Aza Compounds / therapeutic use*
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Fluoroquinolones / therapeutic use*
  • Gatifloxacin
  • Humans
  • Isoniazid / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Moxifloxacin
  • Nonlinear Dynamics
  • Ofloxacin / therapeutic use*
  • Pyrazinamide / therapeutic use
  • Quinolines / therapeutic use*
  • Rifampin / therapeutic use
  • Sputum / microbiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Aza Compounds
  • Fluoroquinolones
  • Quinolines
  • Pyrazinamide
  • Ofloxacin
  • Gatifloxacin
  • Moxifloxacin
  • Isoniazid
  • Rifampin