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Background: Respiratory pathogens are becoming increasingly resistant to antimicrobials. A new group of drugs, called respiratory quinolones have been synthesized to overcome this problem., Aim: To study the in vitro susceptibility of respiratory pathogens to old and new antimicrobials., Materials and Methods: Forty five strains of S pneumoniae, 44 strains of H influenzae, 21 strains of M catarrhalis, 10 strains of methicillin susceptible S aureus and 20 strains of methicillin resistant S aureus were studied. All were isolated from community acquired respiratory infections during 1999. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of moxifloxacin, amoxicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, clarithromycin, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin were determined using the Etest method. Beta-lactamase production by H influenzae and M catarrhalis was also studied., Results: S pneumoniae strains were 100% susceptible to quinolones and cotrimoxazole, 2% were resistant to macrolides, 11% were resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and 47% were resistant to cefuroxime. H influenzae was 100% susceptible to quinolones, azithromycin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. There was a 53% resistance to cotrimoxazole, 21% to amoxicillin, 9% to clarithromycin and 7% to cefuroxime. M catarrahalis was 100% susceptible to quinolones and 100% resistant to amoxicillin, 5% resistant to macrolides, 14% resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, 20% to cefuroxime and 30% to cotrimoxazole. Methicillin susceptible S aureus was susceptible to all antimicrobials and methicillin resistant S aureus was resistant to all., Conclusions: Maxifloxacin and the new respiratory quinolones can be useful in the treatment of respiratory infections.

Background: There is no consensus about the ideal antimicrobial agent and duration of treatment for urinary tract infection in women., Aim: To assess the efficacy of a five days course of ciprofloxacin for the treatment of urinary tract infection in women., Patients and Methods: Women with urinary tract infection were treated with ciprofloxacin (Baycip, Bayer) 250 mg bid during 5 days. Patients were evaluated three to four days after treatment start, two to seven days and one month after treatment end., Results: Of 101 eligible women, 96 aged 18 to 65 years old, coming from three major Chilean cities, participated in the study and 80 completed the follow up period. There was a 95% clinical success, 2.5% partial improvement and 2.5% treatment failure. The causal microorganism was erradicated in 90% of cases, in 1.2% treatment failed and in 8.7% a re-infection occurred. Adverse effects attributable to the drug were observed in 12 patients (headache in 3, gastrointestinal disturbances in 8, somnolence in 1 and irritability in 1)., Conclusions: Ciprofloxacin is an useful antimicrobial for the treatment of lower urinary tract infection in women.