The bronchial penetration of
lomefloxacin, a new difluorinated
quinolone, was evaluated in 36 patients who underwent bronchoscopies for diagnostic purposes. Patients were randomized into two groups, with 18 patients (Group I) receiving a single oral dose of 400 mg
lomefloxacin and 18 patients (Group II) receiving 400 mg twice daily. Samples of serum and bronchial secretions were collected simultaneously in both groups at 1, 2, or 4 hours after
lomefloxacin administration. The results of this study showed that bronchial penetration of
lomefloxacin was rapid and yielded high concentrations; the mean bronchial levels of the
drug reached 2.78 +/- 3.64 micrograms/mL in Group I 1 hour after the dose, and 2.84 +/- 1.73 micrograms/mL in Group II at the fourth hour. The ratio between bronchial and simultaneous serum concentrations was 89% at the first and second hours after the dose for Group I, and it was 77% 4 hours after
oral administration in Group II. In comparing these results to previous reports of
lomefloxacin penetration into bronchial mucosa or of concentrations of other new
fluoroquinolones into bronchial secretions, it is to be noted that the local concentrations of the newer
quinolones are of very similar values, ranging from 2.7 micrograms/mL (
ofloxacin) to 4.46 micrograms/mL (
pefloxacin). This study confirms that
lomefloxacin achieves high tissue concentrations in the respiratory tree; this characteristic, together with
lomefloxacin's antibacterial spectrum, indicates promise in the treatment of many
respiratory infections.