Johns Hopkins ABX Guide
Levofloxacin
INDICATIONS
FDA
FDA
- Acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (ABECB), acute bacterial sinusitis, uncomplicated urinary tract infections
- NOTE: Using levofloxacin for these indications should be avoided due to FDA warnings (black box warnings) regarding serious and potentially permanent side effects (tendinitis and tendon rupture, peripheral neuropathy, and CNS side effects). FDA safety warning regarding fluoroquinolone use
- Pneumonia: community-acquired pneumonia and nosocomial pneumonia
- Inhalational anthrax (post-exposure)
- Uncomplicated and complicated skin and soft tissue infections (not Staphylococcus aureus)
- Complicated urinary tract infections
- Acute pyelonephritis
- Bacterial conjunctivitis (Quixin 0.5% ophthalmic drops)
- Treatment of corneal ulcer (1.5% ophthalmic solution)
- Chronic bacterial prostatitis
NON-FDA
NON-FDA
- Treatment of M. tuberculosis, including MDR and XDR-TB (in combination with other agents)
- Treatment of MAI and other non-TB mycobacterial infections (in combination with other agents)
- Alternative therapy for treating S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae meningitis in patients with severe penicillin allergies
- Bone and joint infections
- Intra-abdominal infections in combination with metronidazole
- H. pylori, in combination with other agents
- Prophylaxis in neutropenic patients
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Last updated: May 10, 2025
Citation
Dzintars, Kathryn, and Paul G Auwaerter. "Levofloxacin." Johns Hopkins ABX Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2025. Pediatrics Central, peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540312/all/Levofloxacin.
Dzintars K, Auwaerter PG. Levofloxacin. Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2025. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540312/all/Levofloxacin. Accessed July 16, 2025.
Dzintars, K., & Auwaerter, P. G. (2025). Levofloxacin. In Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540312/all/Levofloxacin
Dzintars K, Auwaerter PG. Levofloxacin [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2025. [cited 2025 July 16]. Available from: https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540312/all/Levofloxacin.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
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T1 - Levofloxacin
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A1 - Dzintars,Kathryn,Pharm.D., BCPS
AU - Auwaerter,Paul,M.D.
Y1 - 2025/05/10/
BT - Johns Hopkins ABX Guide
UR - https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540312/all/Levofloxacin
PB - The Johns Hopkins University
DB - Pediatrics Central
DP - Unbound Medicine
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