Effectiveness, safety and tolerability of gatifloxacin, a new 8-methoxyfluoroquinolone, in the treatment of outpatients with community-acquired pneumonia: a Brazilian study.

OBJECTIVES Evaluation of the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of gatifloxacin in the treatment of outpatients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). STUDY DESIGN A prospective, multicenter, non-comparative clinical study carried out in Brazil. Voluntary, unpaid physician participation contributed to an unbiased study design. PATIENTS Adult outpatients with clinical diagnosis of CAP. REGIMEN: Gatifloxacin, 400 mg PO once daily for 7 to 14 days. STUDY PROCEDURES: Initial clinical assessment, at the first day of gatifloxacin therapy; final evaluation after 7 to 14 days of treatment. RESULTS According to the physicians assessments 97.3% of patients were cured or improved after gatifloxacin treatment. The incidence of adverse events was low and the most commonly reported events were nausea and dyspepsia. CONCLUSIONS Gatifloxacin, 400 mg PO once daily for 7 to 14 days, is effective and safe in the treatment of patients with CAP.