Emergency Medicine PharmD - By Tony Mixon - November 15, 2017
"Many institutions have implemented antimicrobial restriction programs where specific agents, based on toxicity, cost, or broad-spectrum of activity, require special permission for use. Often a page is required to initiate the request. During my infectious diseases PGY-2 I carried this antimicrobial approval pager, either approving the use of restricted agents or offering suggesting on alternative therapy. Fluoroquinolones (FQs) were by far, the most requested restricted antimicrobials, and also the most denied. In emergency departments without such programs, pharmacists play a vital role in antimicrobial stewardship, steering therapy to optimize clinical outcomes while minimizing unintended consequences. With their broad spectrum of activity, oral formulation, and seemingly minimal adverse effect profile, FQs were highly touted when originally approved. However, after decades of clinical use and research, is it time we rethink their greatness?"
Take Home Points
- FQs have been associated with many severe adverse reactions, including but not limited to QT prolongation, CDI, seizures, peripheral neuropathy, hypo/hyper glycemia, GI perforation, tendinopathy, retinal detachment, aortic dissection/aneurysm, as well as causing drug-drug interactions.
- FQs carry multiple black box warnings surrounding their safety.
- FQs have a low barrier to resistance.
- Resistance rates to FQs have increased rapidly. Look at your antibiogram!
- Ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin are our only oral agents with reliable activity against Pseudomonas spp.
- FQs should be reserved for a few clinical scenarios where other antibiotics are not safe or feasible.