Activity of Trovafloxacin Against Micro-Organisms Isolated from Diabetic Patients with Lower Extremity Infections

Diabetic foot infections represent a major complication for patients affected by diabetes mellitus. In Ontario, Canada, 45% of all amputations of a lower extremity occur in persons with diabetes.[1] This complication represents a considerable physical, psychological and financial cost. Diabetic foot infections generally involve a mixed bacterial flora, which includes aerobic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and anaerobic micro-organisms. New quinolones such as trovafloxacin, which has a broad spectrum of activity, may become very useful for treating foot infections in patients with diabetes. Themain objectives of this studywere to determine the in vitro activity of new quinolones against microorganisms isolated from patients with diabetic foot infections, and to compare the activity of new quinolones such as trovafloxacin with antibacterials commonly used in the treatment of such infections.