Results
Seventy-six children (median age 9.5, IQR 3.6-13.1 years), received
ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin for VAT treatment during the study period.
Median treatment duration was 8 (range 7-10) days. Most tracheostomy
cultures (n=70/82, 85%) were polymicrobial, with P. aeruginosamost commonly isolated (n=67/224 organisms, 30%). Sixty-five children
(86%) were successfully treated with an enteral fluoroquinolone.
Antibiotics were changed or extended for two (3%) children. Ten (13%)
children were prescribed antibiotics and eight (11%) required
hospitalization for a lower respiratory tract infection within 30 days
of completion of their fluoroquinolone course. Six (8%) patients
received a seizure rescue medication, seven (9%) experienced emesis,
and one (1%) had elevated transaminases. Tendonitis, tendon rupture and
QTc prolongation were not observed.