Review of tissue penetration and clinical efficacy of enoxacin in skin and skin structure infections and in osteomyelitis.

Enoxacin achieves a high penetration into skin tissue and blister fluid, reaching a maximum serum concentration (Cmax) of 3.7 mg/L at a time to reach maximum concentration (tmax) of 1.9 hours and a blister-fluid Cmax of 2.9 mg/L at a tmax of 3.7 hours after an oral dose of 600 mg. The half-life of enoxacin is 6.2 hours in serum and 7.2 hours in blister fluid. In a multicentre, open, non-comparative trial, clinical cure or improvement in skin or skin structure infections was achieved after oral administration of enoxacin 200 to 600 mg twice daily in 88% of 196 evaluable patients. Overall satisfactory bacteriological response was obtained in 76% of patients. In a multicentre, randomised, double-blind trial comparing oral enoxacin 400 mg twice daily with cephalexin 500 mg twice daily, satisfactory clinical outcome was achieved in 92% of 73 evaluable patients receiving enoxacin and in 99% of 72 evaluable patients receiving cephalexin. Furthermore, there was no statistically significant difference between the bacteriological efficacy of the 2 agents. In 3 single-centre trials, satisfactory clinical results were achieved in 75 to 100% of patients, and satisfactory bacteriological results occurred in 47 to 76% of patients after administration of oral enoxacin 400 mg twice daily for 7 to 14 days. In vitro uptake of enoxacin in bone leads to a concentration of 300 micrograms/g, with 83% being retained by bone after 3 washings with saline at pH 7.2. Clinical trials involving oral enoxacin in osteomyelitis are currently under way.