Levof loxacin for the Treatment of Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis: Position in Recent Guidelines

Introduction Exacerbations are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In the European Union, the annual number of consultations per 100,000 population averages 7,300 and accounts for 10.3 billion in health care costs. Despite aggressive medical treatment, approximately one-third of patients discharged from the emerAddress of correspondence Hartmut M Lode, MD, PhD Professor of Medicine, Department of Chest and Infectious Diseases, Helios Klinikum Emil von Behring, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Zum Heckeshorn 33 14109 Berlin, Germany gency department with acute exacerbations of COPD have recurrent symptoms within 14 days and 17% relapse and require hospitalization (3). Conventional end-points for the efficacy of the pharmacological treatment of exacerbations of COPD include symptoms and bacteriological resolution at 2–4 weeks. These end-points have been used to evaluate new drugs and may have clinical relevance. Other end-points, such as the From left to right Hartmut M Lode, MD, PhD M Schmidt-Ioanas, MD, PhD Department of Chest and Infectious Diseases, Helios Klinikum Emil von Behring, Academic Teaching Hospital of Charite, Berlin, Germany