Escherichia coli Resistant to Fluoroquinolones in Patients with Cancer and Neutropenia

Abstract

To the Editor: Fluoroquinolones have been shown to decrease the frequency of gram-negative infections in patients with neutropenia1,2. Although fluoroquinolone-resistant mutations seem to occur at low rates in Enterobacteriaceae,3 overuse of these antibiotics may result in the emergence of resistant organisms4. We report the occurrence of fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli bacteremia in patients with cancer and neutropenia. In trials performed between 1983 and 1993 by the International Antimicrobial Therapy Cooperative Group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, the proportion of patients with cancer and neutropenia who received prophylaxis with fluoroquinolones increased from 1.4 percent . . .