Clinical study on sparfloxacin in the treatment of chlamydial respiratory infections

We studied the clinical efficacy of sparfloxacin (SPFX), a new quinolone antibacterial agent, in patients with chlamydial respiratory infection. The results obtained were as follows: 1) SPFX was administered orally to 97 patients suspected of having chlamydial respiratory infection at a dosage of 200 mg divided into 1-2 times a day for 3 to 14 days. Out of the 97 patients enrolled in this study 21 were confirmed to have chlamydial infection. 2) Of these 21 patients 18 with pneumonia, acute bronchitis, or bronchial asthma with infection were evaluated for clinical efficacy, and the clinical efficacy rate was 88.9% (16/18). 3) The cumulative clinical efficacy rates of 'excellent' and 'good' against Chlamydia pneumoniae, Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia sp. were 77.8%, 100% and 100%, respectively. 4) C. pneumoniae was isolated from one patient and eradicated after administration of SPFX. 5) Side effects such as nausea, vomiting, headache, diarrhea and fever were observed in 11 (11.6%) out of 95 cases evaluated for safety. 6) Abnormal laboratory findings, such as elevation of S-GPT and eosinophiles were observed in 8 (8.9%) out of 90 cases evaluated. However, all side effects and abnormal laboratory findings were mild or moderate and transient. Based an these results, we conclude that SPFX is a very useful quinolone for chlamydial respiratory infections.