Lomefloxacin versus ciprofloxacin in the treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis

A total of 182 patients with chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) were recruited into this multicentre prospective, randomized clinical study. Of these, 93 were treated orally with lomefloxacin (LOMX) 400 mg once daily and 89 with ciprofloxacin (CIPX) 500 mg twice daily for 4 weeks. At 5-9 days 90/90 vs 86/86, at 4-6 weeks 82/83 vs 82/82, at 3 months 80/79 vs 78/75, and at 6 months 78/75 vs 75/72 patients aging from 18 to 70 years were evaluable bacteriologically/clinically according to a modified intention to treat evaluation. The most frequent pathogens were Escherichia coli, followed by staphylococci, enterococci and Proteus mirabilis. At 59 days, 4-6 weeks, 3 and 6 months after therapy the rates of eradication without superinfection per evaluable patients (100%) were 80, 72, 74, and 63% in the LOMX group and 84, 81, 82, and 72% in the CIPX group and (cure and improvement) rates were 98 vs 97%, 84 vs 90%, 86 vs 89%, and 81 vs 89%. There were no statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) between the results of the two treatment groups. Nine (5 vs 4) patients were withdrawn because of adverse events. From the bacteriological and clinical results including adverse events, the oral treatment of CBP over 4 weeks with LOMX 400 mg once daily was comparably effective and tolerable with that of CIPX 500 mg twice daily. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. and International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.