What is the use of Oflox (Ofloxacin)?

Uses of Ofloxacin (Oflox)

Ofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic indicated for the treatment of various bacterial infections including urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted infections, respiratory infections, skin infections, and prostatitis caused by susceptible organisms.

Primary Indications

Ofloxacin is FDA-approved for the following conditions 1:

• Urinary Tract Infections:

  • Uncomplicated cystitis due to Citrobacter diversus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • Complicated urinary tract infections due to E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. mirabilis, C. diversus, or P. aeruginosa
  • Prostatitis due to Escherichia coli

• Sexually Transmitted Infections:

  • Acute, uncomplicated urethral and cervical gonorrhea due to Neisseria gonorrhoeae
  • Nongonococcal urethritis and cervicitis due to Chlamydia trachomatis
  • Mixed infections of the urethra and cervix due to C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae
  • Acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) due to C. trachomatis and/or N. gonorrhoeae

• Respiratory Infections:

  • Acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis due to Haemophilus influenzae or Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • Community-acquired pneumonia due to H. influenzae or S. pneumoniae

• Skin and Skin Structure Infections:

  • Uncomplicated infections due to methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, or Proteus mirabilis

Dosing Regimens

For Sexually Transmitted Infections:

• Gonorrhea: 400 mg orally in a single dose 2
• Chlamydial infections: 300 mg orally twice daily for 7 days 2
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: 400 mg orally twice daily for 14 days, often combined with metronidazole 500 mg orally twice daily for 14 days 2

For Urinary Tract Infections:

• Uncomplicated UTI: 200-400 mg orally twice daily for 3-7 days
• Complicated UTI: 200-400 mg orally twice daily for 10-14 days
• Prostatitis: 300 mg orally twice daily for 6 weeks 3, 4

For Respiratory Infections:

• Acute bronchitis/pneumonia: 400 mg orally twice daily for 10 days

Antimicrobial Spectrum

Ofloxacin has broad-spectrum activity against:

• Gram-negative bacteria (particularly effective against Enterobacteriaceae)
• Some gram-positive bacteria (though less potent than against gram-negatives)
• Atypical pathogens including Chlamydia and some Mycoplasma species 5, 6

Clinical Considerations

1. Resistance concerns: Some strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa may develop resistance rapidly during treatment 1

2. Bioavailability: Ofloxacin is well absorbed orally with high tissue penetration and approximately 80% of the dose is recovered in urine within 24 hours 5

3. Prostatitis treatment: Ofloxacin achieves good prostatic tissue penetration, making it effective for bacterial prostatitis 3, 4

4. Combination therapy: For PID and some complicated infections, ofloxacin is often combined with metronidazole to provide anaerobic coverage 2

5. Plague prophylaxis: Ofloxacin can be used as an alternative agent for plague prophylaxis at a dose of 7.5 mg/kg every 12 hours (maximum 400 mg/dose) 2

Common Adverse Effects

• Gastrointestinal disturbances (nausea, diarrhea)
• Central nervous system effects (headache, dizziness)
• Photosensitivity
• Tendon inflammation or rupture (rare but serious)

Contraindications and Precautions

• Contraindicated in persons ≤17 years of age due to risk of cartilage damage 2
• Use with caution in patients with known QT prolongation
• Avoid in pregnant women when possible
• May interact with antacids, reducing absorption 7

Monitoring

Culture and susceptibility testing should be performed before treatment when possible, and therapy may be initiated empirically while awaiting results 1.

For complicated infections, patients should demonstrate substantial clinical improvement within 3 days of starting therapy. If improvement is not seen, reevaluation of diagnosis and therapy is warranted 2.