Fluoroquinolone Prescribing for Diabetic Foot Infections following an FDA Drug Safety Communication for Aortic Aneurysm Risk

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2021 Aug 17;65(9):e0070821. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00708-21. Epub 2021 Aug 17.

Abstract

In 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Drug Safety Communication regarding fluoroquinolone-associated aortic aneurysm. This quasi-experimental study assessed antibiotic prescribing for 198 patients hospitalized with diabetic foot infection. Following the warning, median inpatient fluoroquinolone days of therapy (DOT) decreased from 3 to 0 days (P < 0.001), corresponding to increased beta-lactam DOT and outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy enrollment. FDA communications may influence antibiotic selection and transitions of care, representing opportunities for antimicrobial stewardship.

Keywords: aortic aneurysm; diabetic foot infection; fluoroquinolone; stewardship.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects
  • Aortic Aneurysm* / drug therapy
  • Communication
  • Diabetes Mellitus* / drug therapy
  • Diabetic Foot* / drug therapy
  • Fluoroquinolones / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations*
  • United States
  • United States Food and Drug Administration

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Fluoroquinolones
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations