Moxifloxacin versus levofloxacin against acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis: the Latin American Cohort

We compared the efficacy and safety of moxifloxacin and levofloxacin for the treatment of patients with acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB) using a prospective, randomized, double blind, parallel-group clinical trial design. A total of 563 patients with AECB were enrolled (437 efficacy-valid) at 34 centers in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. Patients were randomized to oral therapy with either moxifloxacin 400 mg once daily for 5 days or levofloxacin 500 mg once daily for 7 days. Clinical success was achieved in 201 out of 221 (91.0%) patients in the moxifloxacin group, and in 203 out of 216 (94.0%) in the levofloxacin group, indicating that moxifloxacin is equivalently effective to levofloxacin. Bacteriologic eradication or presumed eradication was also similar in the two treatment groups: 92.8% in the moxifloxacin group and 93.8% in the levofloxacin group. Nausea was the most common drug-related adverse event in each treatment group. the rate of discontinuation because of adverse events was very low (<= 2%). in conclusion, a 5-day course of moxifloxacin is clinically and bacteriologically equivalent to a 7-day course of levofloxacin in the treatment of patients with AECB. the short treatment duration with moxifloxacin may have compliance advantages over other currently used therapies in the 'real-Life' clinical setting. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Fdn LUSARA, Mexico City 08930, DF, MexicoInst Nacl Enfermedades Resp, Mexico City, DF, MexicoHosp Mi Pueblo, Buenos Aires, DF, ArgentinaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilClin Reina Sofia, Bogota, ColombiaClin Ricardo Palma, Lima, PeruBayer Mexico, SA & CV, Mexico City, DF, MexicoUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc