Treatment of respiratory tract infections with fluoroquinolones in Belgium

Belgian data on the treatment of respiratory tract infections with antibiotics in ambulatory care showed that fluoroquinolone use remains well controlled. Belgian guidelines have recommended moxifloxacin for CAP outpatients with comorbid conditions or outpatients in whom infection with atypical pathogens needs to be considered. Moxifloxacin is recommended in case of IgE-mediated ß-lactam allergy or severe intolerance to ß-lactam antibiotics when treating COPD exacerbations or when treating upper respiratory tract infections on the rare occasion that antibiotic treatment is warranted. The MIC distribution of moxifloxacin and levofloxacin in S. pneumoniae isolates remained stable during 20042009 and resistance to moxifloxacin and levofloxacin was low (≤ 1%) in Belgium. As the cost-effectiveness of moxifloxacin is influenced by the causative pathogens involved and resistance patterns, it may be advisable to identify patient subgroups in which moxifloxacin is cost-effective.