BACKGROUND:Trovafloxacin, a new broad-spectrum fourth-generation quinolone, has in vitro activity against most gram-negative and gram-positive anaerobes and aerobes. Trovafloxacin is available as both an intravenous formulation, alatrofloxacin, and a single daily oral tablet. Excellent tissue pharmacokinetics and oral bioavailability suggest usefulness in the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections. Thus, the efficacy of alatrofloxacin followed by oral trovafloxacin was compared with the standard regimen of intravenous imipenem/cilastatin followed by oral amoxicillin/clavulanic acid in this prospective, multicenter, double-blind trial.METHODS:Patients were randomized to receive either 300 mg alatrofloxacin daily followed by 200 mg oral trovafloxacin daily or 1 g imipenem/cilastatin intravenously thrice daily followed by 500 mg oral amoxicillin/clavulanic acid thrice daily for up to 14 days following surgical intervention of a documented intra-abdominal infection. Efficacy was assessed at the end of therapy and at follow-up (day 30).RESULTS:At the end of the study, cure or improvement occurred in 83% (129/156) and 84% (127/152) of clinically evaluable patients in the trovafloxacin and comparative groups, respectively. Pathogen eradication rates, adverse-event profiles, and significant laboratory abnormalities were comparable between groups.CONCLUSION:Intravenous alatrofloxacin with or without oral trovafloxacin was as effective as intravenous imipenem/cilastatin followed by oral amoxicillin/clavulanic acid in complicated intra-abdominal infections.