TY - JOUR T1 - Efficacy of moxifloxacin in the treatment of bronchial colonisation in COPD JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J SP - 1066 LP - 1071 DO - 10.1183/09031936.00195608 VL - 34 IS - 5 AU - M. Miravitlles AU - A. Marín AU - E. Monsó AU - S. Vilà AU - C. de la Roza AU - R. Hervás AU - C. Esquinas AU - M. García AU - L. Millares AU - J. Morera AU - A. Torres Y1 - 2009/11/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/34/5/1066.abstract N2 - This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of moxifloxacin for the eradication of bacterial colonisation of the airways in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Out of 119 stable patients with COPD screened, 40 (mean age 69 yrs, mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s 50% predicted) were colonised with potentially pathogenic microorganisms (PPMs) and were included in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with moxifloxacin 400 mg daily for 5 days. Eradication rates were 75% with moxifloxacin and 30% with placebo at 2 weeks (p = 0.01). Bacterial persistence at 8 weeks was still higher (not significantly) in the placebo arm (five (25%) out of 20 versus one (5%) out of 20; p = 0.18). The frequencies of acquisition of a new PPM were high and similar in both treatment groups; consequently, the prevalence of colonisation at 8 weeks was also similar between treatment arms. No difference was found in the number of patients with exacerbations during the 5-month follow-up. Only the acquisition of a new PPM during follow-up showed a statistically significant relationship with occurrence of an exacerbation. Moxifloxacin was effective in eradicating PPMs in patients with positive sputum cultures. However, most patients were recolonised after 8 weeks of follow-up. Acquisition of a new strain of bacteria was associated with an increased risk of developing an exacerbation. ER -