Levofloxacin as Effective as Ciprofloxacin for cUTI, Acute Pyelonephritis

A once-daily, 750-mg dose of levofloxacin (Levaquin) taken for 5 days has been shown to be as effective as a 10-day, 400- to 500-mg regimen of ciprofloxacin for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI) and acute pyelonephritis (AP). Levofloxacin's manufacturer, Ortho-McNeil Inc, conducted a multicenter, double-blind, randomized study of 1109 patients with either cUTI or AP who received either the levofloxacin therapy or the ciprofloxacin therapy. Resolution or improvement of urinary symptoms was similar for both therapies, with common adverse events being nausea, headache, and diarrhea. Data from the study were presented recently at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association.