Fluoroquinolones Pneumonia Treatment Overview

In cases shown by people older than 18, the treatment for pneumonia may be done with fluoroquinolones, also known as quinolones, medicines that prevent bacteria from reproducing.

Generally, all types of antibiotics have an increased rate of curing pneumonia. Those rates range from 73 to 96 percents for people treated in hospitals and above 90 percents for people treated outside hospitals.

Fluoroquinolones were proved to be very effective.

* Many types of bacteria may be exterminated with one type of fluoroquinolones.
* Fluoroquinolones have various effects depending on the bacteria type. As an example, while ciprofloxacin may not have the desired effect against some types of Streptococcus pneumoniae, levofloxacin may work better.
* Some bacteria that are resistant to penicillin and erythromycin may be exterminated by fluoroquinolones.

Fluoroquinolones may show side effects like:

* Headache.
* Dizziness.
* Nausea.
* Vomiting.
* Rash.
* Taste of metal in the mouth.
* Phototoxic reaction (increased sensitivity to the sun).

Sunburns are easier to encounter while taking fluoroquinolones so it is recommended to avoid direct sunlight or tan salons when a fluoroquinolones treatment is followed or for five days after it was completed.

* Phototoxic reactions are not fully avoided with sunscreens because most of them don't absorb enough of the ultraviolet rays.
* Covering as much as possible of the body surface is recommended in those cases when exposure to sunlight can't be avoided.

People over the age of 18 got the approval to use fluoroquinolones but there are yet some categories of persons that are recommended not to use them because their effectiveness and safety is not clear:

* Pregnant women.
* Women who are breastfeeding.
* Persons aging less than 18. For children under the age of 8, fluoroquinolones are not recommended unless prescribed by a specialist because they can harm the cartilages.

A lower dose of these medications may be prescribed by the doctor in case the patient suffers from kidney conditions, in order to minimize the side effects.

When a person starts a fluoroquinolones treatment, prior treatments containing the blood thinning medicine warfarin (Coumadin) will be reduced in dosage.

It may be easier to remember taking the prescribed medicines in the case of levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and gatifloxacin because they are taken only once a day.

The levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and gatifloxacin treatments are usually not the first choice of doctors even if they are highly efficient. This is due to the concern that overusing of fluoroquinolones may decrease their effectiveness against the bacteria.