Conditions: COPD Exacerbation
Keywords: COPD exacerbation fluoroquinolones,
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 258
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The primary objective of the study is to determine the percentage of patients with "therapeutic success" at the end of the cycle of antibiotic therapy (10 days), in the two treatment groups (levofloxacin and prulifloxacin). The effect of study treatments will be evaluated on the basis of a score determined in relation to the signs-symptoms of acute exacerbation of COPD (sputum purulence, sputum volume, cough, dyspnea, fever)

Detailed description:
The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the use of fluoroquinolones a class of antibiotics introduced relatively recently, in a particular population of patients with acute exacerbation of COPD, previously treated unsuccessfully with other antibiotics, and hospitalized in Internal Medicine. These patients reflect the reality of patients admitted to Internal Medicine, they are characterized by a high frequency of advanced age, polypathology, with multiple treatments.

Arms:
arm 1: Levofloxacin 1 tablet 500 mg once a day for 7-10 days. It will be used, according to a randomization list pre-ordered, centralized, in blocks of 4 patients arm 2: Prulifloxacin 1 tablet 600 mg once a day for 7-10 days. It will be used, according to a randomization list pre-ordered, centralized, in blocks of 4 patients

Interventions: intervention 1: Levofloxacin 1 tablet 500 mg once a day intervention 2: Prulifloxacin 1 tablet 600 mg once a day
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Will be used, according to a randomization list pre-ordered, centralized, in blocks of 4 patients:

Levofloxacin 500 mg (1 tablet) once daily for 7-10 days. The prescribing and dispensing of the drug will be made by medical personnel not directly involved in the data collection procedures for the study, and nursing staff, and the Medical Investigator will not be aware of the type of treatment to the individual. The drugs will be administered in the morning, about two hours after food. intervention 2: Will be used, according to a randomization list pre-ordered, centralized, in blocks of 4 patients:

Prulifloxacin 1 tablet 600 mg once daily for 7-10 days. The prescribing and dispensing of the drug will be made by medical personnel not directly involved in the data collection procedures for the study, and nursing staff, and the Medical Investigator will not be aware of the type of treatment to the individual. The drugs will be administered in the morning, about two hours after food.

Protocol document: