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Suggest Medicines For Pneumonia

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Posted on Mon, 3 Nov 2014
Question: Which of the ciprofloxins have the best efficacy for treatment of pneumonia or what other drugs do you suggest?
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Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (34 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
It depends... please read on

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
avelox (moxifloxacin) is a very potent 'respiratory' quinolone (this is the drug-class name). It provides great protection against streptococcus pneumoniae which is a major pathogen in pneumonia.
Other choices include levofloxacin which is not as potent against streptococcus pneumoniae, gatifloxacin (broader spectrum antibiotic) and plurifloxacin.
Moxifloxacin is usually the drug of choice in patients with a history of respiratory or heart disease or diabetes.
'Respiratory' quinolones are not always the best choices though.
In patients with long-standing lung disease pseudomonas is a possible pathogen and ciprofloxacin has to be included in the regimen, which -otherwise- is a great choice for infections of the genitourinary tract and relatively useless for the respiratory tract.
If the fever persists without any sign of improvement then you need both clinical and laboratory evaluation. Blood tests can help determine whether the cause of your pneumonia is a virus or a bacterium. White blood cells count, quantitative C-reactive protein and procalcitonin would be of great help. Patients with bacterial pneumonia who show no improvement after been treated with a potent antibiotic like moxifloxacin would benefit from intravenous therapy with more 'advanced' choices. This kind of therapy requires hospital admission.
Viral pneumonia cannot get better with antibiotics. If it is caused by influenza virus then specific antiviral treatment exists, that may provide some small benefit. No other viral pneumonia can improve with antiviral treatment.
I hope I've shed some light on your condition!
If you have more questions on the subject, please ask. I'll be glad to provide further clarifications.
Kind Regards!
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Answered by
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Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3816 Questions

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Suggest Medicines For Pneumonia

Brief Answer: It depends... please read on Detailed Answer: Hello, avelox (moxifloxacin) is a very potent 'respiratory' quinolone (this is the drug-class name). It provides great protection against streptococcus pneumoniae which is a major pathogen in pneumonia. Other choices include levofloxacin which is not as potent against streptococcus pneumoniae, gatifloxacin (broader spectrum antibiotic) and plurifloxacin. Moxifloxacin is usually the drug of choice in patients with a history of respiratory or heart disease or diabetes. 'Respiratory' quinolones are not always the best choices though. In patients with long-standing lung disease pseudomonas is a possible pathogen and ciprofloxacin has to be included in the regimen, which -otherwise- is a great choice for infections of the genitourinary tract and relatively useless for the respiratory tract. If the fever persists without any sign of improvement then you need both clinical and laboratory evaluation. Blood tests can help determine whether the cause of your pneumonia is a virus or a bacterium. White blood cells count, quantitative C-reactive protein and procalcitonin would be of great help. Patients with bacterial pneumonia who show no improvement after been treated with a potent antibiotic like moxifloxacin would benefit from intravenous therapy with more 'advanced' choices. This kind of therapy requires hospital admission. Viral pneumonia cannot get better with antibiotics. If it is caused by influenza virus then specific antiviral treatment exists, that may provide some small benefit. No other viral pneumonia can improve with antiviral treatment. I hope I've shed some light on your condition! If you have more questions on the subject, please ask. I'll be glad to provide further clarifications. Kind Regards!