[Our experience with ofloxacin in the treatment of osteoarticular infections]

Twenty patients with osteoarticular infections, fourteen post-arthroplasty and six with osteitis, were treated with ofloxacin, usually in combination. Sixteen staphylococcus strains including eight aureus and eight coagulase negative (modal MIC and MBC: 0.5 micrograms/ml), three Escherichia coli (modal MIC and MBC: 0.06 micrograms/ml) and one Peptococcus (MIC: 0.25, MBC: 0.5) were isolated. Treatment was given at a mean dose of 9.81 +/- 2.46 mg/kg for a mean duration of 100 days. The serum concentration of ofloxacin was measured at 3.73 +/- 2.13 micrograms/ml for a dosage of 8.23 +/- 0.94 mg/kg (25 assays) and 7.42 +/- 4 micrograms/ml for 11.46 +/- 1.3 mg/kg (23 assays). Bacteriological control was carried out nineteen times; in one case of staphylococcal osteitis, a relapse occurred on the 43rd day of treatment when the strain isolated was resistant to ofloxacin. Three patients presented adverse effects: two cases of bone and muscle pain and one cutaneous allergic reaction: treatment was withdrawn after two restarts. The antibacterial action, the good tolerance and the easy administration of ofloxacin make it a useful antibiotic in the treatment of osteoarticular infections, where a dosage of 8 mg/kg appears to be necessary, particularly in infections due to staphylococci.