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LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY, November 1, 2004 -
New Surveillance data show that the antibiotic Aveloxâ (moxifloxacin HCI) was highly active against Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria that were resistant to commonly used antibiotics such as azithromycin and penicillin (up to 100 percent resistant) and even levofloxacin (up to 9.7 percent resistant).
The data, presented at the 44th annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), in Washington, DC, analyzed the in vitro activity of antibiotics against S. pneumoniae strains taken from patients in seven countries. S. pneumoniae is the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia, as well as a frequent cause of bacterial sinusitis and acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. The incidence of S. pneumoniae becoming resistant to two to five antibiotics, known as multi-drug resistant S. pneumoniae (MDRSP), continues to increase worldwide.
“The rise of resistance among S. pneumoniae is worrying, especially considering how dangerous respiratory tract infections can be to certain populations, such as the elderly,” said Dr. Ian Morrissey, lead study author and Chief Operating Officer, GR Micro Ltd., London, UK. “As demonstrated in this in vitro study, the superior activity of Avelox compared to the other antibiotics tested, even members of the same class such as levofloxacin, means that physicians still have an effective weapon to treat infections, even in situations when multi-drug resistant pneumococci are suspected.”
In this analysis, a total of 3,228 S. pneumoniae strains were collected from patients with community acquired respiratory tract infections at 51 centers in France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, Spain and the United States. Antibiotics analyzed for susceptibility included Avelox, amoxicillin-clavulanate, penicillin, azithromycin, ceftriaxone, levofloxacin and gatifloxacin. Avelox was the most active agent tested against pneumococci that were resistant to at least two antibiotics, with a resistant rate between 0.7 percent and 3.2 percent, up to three times lower than gatifloxacin and levofloxacin, the second and third most active compounds tested. Almost all MDRSP strains were resistant to azithromycin and penicillin.
The surveillance program evolved from a compilation of data from multiple studies in respiratory tract infection (RTI) and urinary tract infection (UTI) pathogens into a single global surveillance study. The program is now positioned to identify resistance trends not only in primary RTI and UTI pathogens, but also based on stratification of these pathogens (by indication, by patient characteristic, etc.). The program collects data from sites in North America, Europe, and Africa.
About Avelox
In Europe, Avelox tablets are approved to treat Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP), except severe cases, Acute Bacterial Sinusitis (ABS), adequately diagnosed, and Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Bronchitis (AECB).
About Bayer HealthCare AG
Bayer HealthCare AG, a subgroup of Bayer AG with sales of approximately 8.9 billion Euro in 2003, is one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the health care and medical products industry.
The company combines the global activities of the divisions Animal Health, Biological Products, Consumer Care, Diagnostics Professional Testing Systems and Diagnostics Self Testing Systems and Pharmaceuticals. 34,600 people are employed by Bayer HealthCare worldwide.
Our aim is to discover and manufacture innovative products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. Our products enhance well-being and quality of life by diagnosing, preventing and treating disease.
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