Levofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, marketed by Ortho-McNeil under the trade name Levaquin. Chemically, levofloxacin is the S-enantiomer (L-isomer) of ofloxacin.

Levofloxacin is effective against a number of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Because of its broad spectrum of action, levofloxacin is frequently prescribed empirically for a wide range of infections (e.g. pneumonia, urinary tract infection) before the specific causal organism is known. If the causal organism is identified, levofloxacin may be discontinued and the patient may be switched to an antibiotic with a narrower spectrum of activity.

Gram-positive bacteria

• Enterococcus faecalis (many strains are only moderately susceptible)
• Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible strains)
• Staphylococcus epidermidis (methicillin-susceptible strains)
• Staphylococcus saprophyticus
• Streptococcus pneumoniae (including penicillin-resistant strains*)
• Streptococcus pyogenes

Levofloxacin only has moderate Gram-positive coverage; beta-lactams (e.g. ceftriaxone) or glycopeptides (e.g. vancomycin) are generally preferred for this indication.

Gram-negative bacteria

• Enterobacter cloacae
• Klebsiella pneumoniae
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Escherichia coli
• Legionella pneumophila
• Serratia marcescens
• Haemophilus influenzae
• Moraxella catarrhalis
• Haemophilus parainfluenzae
• Proteus mirabilis
• Campylobacter

Other

• Chlamydia pneumoniae
• Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Some information extracted from Levaquin Prescribing information.

Organofluorides | fluoroquinolone antibiotics

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