Quinolones for Empiric Therapy of Travelers’ Diarrhea

Acute diarrhea occurs in just under half of those persons from industrialized regions who venture into developing tropical areas (Steffen et al. 1983). A majority of the affected persons alter their scheduled activities (DuPont et al. 1977). The threat of diarrhea in tropical areas clearly influences travel patterns, which has important economic implications for the host countries (DuPont et al. 1986). It is remarkable that despite our current knowledge of the reasons for the illness and its possible control (improved food and water quality) rates of illness have not changed in the past 40 years.