The Effect of Levofloxacin Restriction in a Community-Based Hospital: A Single Center Analysis

Abstract

Fluoroquinolones are a commonly prescribed class of medications for pneumonia. In the last decade, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warnings including tendinitis, clostridium difficile infection, aortic aneurysms and hypoglycemia in elderly patients. Despite these warnings, the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) health care acquired pneumonia (HAP) guidelines and American Thoracic Society community acquired pneumonia (CAP) guidelines endorses fluoroquinolones as first line treatment. With fluoroquinolone restriction in many hospitals, including ours, the question remains whether restrictions on fluoroquinolones are affecting patient outcomes. This study analyzes the affects of levofloxacin restriction for the treatment of pneumonia. We examined the rate of readmission, c-diff rates and mortality before and after levofloxacin restriction was instituted.