[Pharma-clinics. The drug of the month. Levofloxacin (Tavanic)].

Levofloxacin, the (-)-(S)-enantiomer isolated from the racemate ofloxacin, is launched by Aventis under the trade name of Tavanic. This new oral and parenteral antibiotic belongs to the fluoroquinolone family and exerts a bactericidal activity upon a large spectrum of microorganisms, including Gram negative and Gram positive bacilli (among which Streptococcus pneunomiae), and atypical respiratory pathogens. It also has interesting pharmacokinetic properties. Besides the classical indications of other fluoroquinolones (especially complicated urinary tract infections, including pyelonephritis, and severe skin and soft tissue infections), levofloxacin is indicated for the treatment of acute sinusitis, acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis and community-acquired pneumonia.