Pharmacokinetics of moxifloxacin in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock

Purpose To investigate the steady-state pharmacokinetics of moxifloxacin in critically ill patients after intravenous administration of the 400 mg fixed dose. Methods Fifteen adult patients with severe sepsis ( n = 3) or septic shock ( n = 12) were enrolled in this dual-centre, prospective, open-label study. Moxifloxacin was administered with the recommended dose of 400 mg once daily i.v. for at least 5 days. Blood samples were obtained before and 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 18 and 24 h after the third administration. Moxifloxacin concentrations in plasma were measured by HPLC with fluorescence detection. Results Data for 400 mg moxifloxacin i.v. were as follows (geometric mean): C max : 3.5 mg/l, t ½ : 7.8 h and AUC (48–72 h): 25 mg h/l. In five individual patients AUC (48–72 h) was