Clinical effect of gatifloxacin, 200 mg daily, on bacterial community-acquired pneumonia in the elderly.

The clinical effect of gatifloxacin (GFLX) at 200 mg daily (half of common dosage) on bacterial community-acquired pneumonia in the elderly was examined. Subjects were 30 patients with bacterial community-acquired pneumonia aged 65 years or more (mild, 21 patients; moderate, 9 patients), and GFLX at 100 mg per dose was administered twice daily for 4–14 days. The results included clinical effectiveness in 21 of 21 mildly affected patients (efficacy rate, 100%), in 8 of 9 moderately affected patients (efficacy rate, 88.9%), and 29 of a total of 30 patients (efficacy rate, 96.7%). With regard to bacteriological effect, 28 of 29 strains were eradicated (eradication rate, 96.6%). Abnormal laboratory findings included mild elevations in GPT, GOT, and ALP in only 1 patient. Based on these findings, we concluded that administration of GFLX at 200 mg daily is recommended for bacterial community-acquired pneumonia in the elderly.