Clinical and pharmacokinetic aspects of ciprofloxacin in the treatment of acute exacerbations of pseudomonas infection in cystic fibrosis patients

Twelve cystic fibrosis patients, aged over 18, who had developed an acute respiratory exacerbation and who had Pseudomonas species isolated from their sputum, were entered into a clinical trial involving ciprofloxacin. The dosage regimen was 100 mg iv followed by 500 mg twice daily orally if 40 kg. Ciprofloxacin was well tolerated with no major side effects, except in one patient who withdrew after onset of headaches and generalized aches and pains. Eleven of the 12 patients showed clinical improvement at the end of the treatment period as determined by weight gain, Shwachman Score, Chrispin Norman Score and pulmonary function tests. MICs of Pseudomonas species isolated from the sputum at the start of the trial were in the range 0·25–4 mg/l. During therapy, sensitivity of isolates decreased and did not return to starting levels at the end of a four week follow-up period. Pharmacokinetic parameters were similar to those reported for fasting healthy volunteers by other workers except for bioavailability which was reduced in the non-fasting patients.