Factive
gemifloxacin mesylate
Pharmacologic class: Quinolone
Therapeutic class: Broad-spectrum anti-infective
Pregnancy risk category C
Action
Inhibits DNA synthesis by inhibiting DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, enzymes needed for bacterial growth
Availability
Tablets: 320 mg
Indications and dosages
➣ Acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis caused by susceptible organisms
Adults: 320 mg P.O. daily for 5 days
➣ Mild to moderate communityacquired pneumonia caused by susceptible organisms
Adults: 320 mg P.O. daily for 5 days
Dosage adjustment
• Renal impairment
Contraindications
• Hypersensitivity to drug
• History of prolonged QTc interval
Precautions
Use cautiously in:
• epilepsy or history of seizures
• pregnant or breastfeeding patients
• children younger than age 18 (safety not established).
Administration
• Give at same time every day with plenty of fluids, with or without food.
• Make sure patient swallows tablet whole without chewing.
• Don't give iron, multivitamins, didanosine, sucralfate, or antacids containing magnesium or aluminum within 3 hours of gemifloxacin.
Adverse reactions
CNS: fatigue, headache, insomnia, drowsiness, nervousness, dizziness, tremor, vertigo, seizures, loss of consciousness
CV: hypotension, prolonged QTc interval, cardiovascular collapse, shock
EENT: vision abnormality, pharyngitis
GI: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, gastritis, gastroenteritis, flatulence, anorexia, dry mouth, pseudomembranous colitis
GU: genital candidiasis, vaginitis, acute renal insufficiency or failure, interstitial nephritis
Hematologic: eosinophilia, anemia, leukopenia, granulocytopenia, thrombocytopenia
Hepatic: jaundice, hepatitis, acute hepatic necrosis, hepatic failure
Metabolic: hyperglycemia
Musculoskeletal: joint, back, or muscle pain; leg cramps; tendinitis; rupture of shoulder, hand, or Achilles tendon
Respiratory: dyspnea, pneumonia
Skin: rash, urticaria, pruritus, eczema, flushing, photosensitivity, angioedema
Other: altered taste, hot flashes, fungal infection, hypersensitivity reaction
Interactions
Drug-drug. Antacids containing aluminum or magnesium, didanosine, iron, multivitamins, sucralfate: reduced gemifloxacin absorption
Antiarrhythmics (class IA, such as quinidine and procainamide, and class III, such as amiodarone and sotalol), antipsychotics, erythromycin, tricyclic antidepressants: increased risk of prolonged QTc interval
Sucralfate: decreased gemifloxacin bioavailability
Drug-diagnostic tests. Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin: increased levels
Drug-behaviors. Sun exposure: increased risk of photosensitivity
Patient monitoring
• Stay alert for signs and symptoms of hypersensitivity reaction and other serious adverse reactions.
• Monitor ECG in patients at risk for prolonged QTc interval.
See Watch for signs and symptoms of tendinitis or tendon rupture.
Patient teaching
• Instruct patient to take drug at same time each day, with or without food.
• Teach patient how to recognize and report signs and symptoms of allergic response.
• Advise patient to take iron, vitamins, antacids, didanosine, or sucralfate 3 hours before or 2 hours after gemifloxacin.
See Instruct patient to stop taking drug and immediately report signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity reaction, severe diarrhea, change in urination pattern, easy bruising or bleeding, unusual tiredness, or yellowing of eyes or skin.
See Advise patient to stop taking drug and immediately report sudden severe pain in shoulder, hand, or Achilles tendon.
• Caution patient to avoid driving and other hazardous activities until he knows how drug affects concentration and alertness.
• As appropriate, review all other significant and life-threatening adverse reactions and interactions, especially those related to the drugs, tests, and behaviors mentioned above.
gemifloxacin
(gem-i-flox-a-sin) gemifloxacin,Factive
(trade name)Classification
Therapeutic: anti infectivesPharmacologic: fluoroquinolones
Indications
- Acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis,
- Community-acquired pneumonia.
Action
Therapeutic effects
- Streptococcus pneumoniae.
- Klebsiella pneumoniae,
- Haemophilus influenzae,
- Haemophilus parainfluenzae,
- Moraxella catarrhalis.
- Chlamydophylia pnaumoniae,
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
Pharmacokinetics
Time/action profile (blood levels)
| ROUTE | ONSET | PEAK | DURATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| PO | rapid | 0.5–2 hr | 24 hr |
Contraindications/Precautions
Adverse Reactions/Side Effects
Central nervous system
- elevated intracranial pressure (including pseudotumor cerebri) (life-threatening)
- seizures (life-threatening)
- agitation
- anxiety
- confusion
- depression
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- hallucinations
- headache
- insomnia
- nightmares
- paranoia
- tremor
Cardiovascular
- torsade de pointes (life-threatening)
- QT interval prolongation
Gastrointestinal
- pseudomembranous colitis (life-threatening)
- diarrhea
- abdominal pain
- nausea
- vomiting
Dermatologic
- stevens-johnson syndrome (life-threatening)
- photosensitivity
- rash
Musculoskeletal
- tendinitis
- tendon rupture
Neurologic
- peripheral neuropathy
Interactions
Drug-Drug interaction
Concurrent use ofamiodarone, disopyramide, erythromycin, procainamide, dofetilide, quinidine, some antipsychotics, sotalol, or tricyclic antidepressants ↑ risk of torsade de pointes in susceptible individuals (avoid concurrent use).Administration with magnesium and aluminum-containing antacids, iron salts, bismuth subsalicylate, sucralfate, didanosine (chewable/buffered tablets or pediatric powder for oral solution), zinc salts, and other metals ↓ absorption.Concurrent use of corticosteroids may ↑ the risk of tendon rupture.May ↑ the risk of nephrotoxicity from cyclosporine.Levels are ↑ by probenecid.Route/Dosage
Acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (ABECB)
Community-acquired-pneumonia (CAP)
Renal Impairment
Oral (Adults) CCr ≤40 mL/min AECB: 160 mg once daily for 5 days; CAP: 160 mg once daily for 7 days.Availability
Nursing implications
Nursing assessment
- Assess patient for infection (vital signs; appearance of wound, sputum, urine, and stool; WBC; urinalysis; frequency and urgency of urination; cloudy or foul-smelling urine) prior to and during therapy.
- Obtain specimens for culture and sensitivity before initiating therapy. First dose may be given before receiving results. To prevent development of resistant bacteria, therapy should only be used to treat infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria.
- Observe patient for signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis (rash, pruritus, laryngeal edema, wheezing). Discontinue drug and notify physician or other health care professional immediately if these problems occur. Keep epinephrine, an antihistamine, and resuscitation equipment close by in case of an anaphylactic reaction. Patients at greater risk for rash are those receiving gemifloxacin for >7 days, <40 yrs of age, females, and postmenopausal females receiving hormone replacement therapy.
- Monitor bowel function. Diarrhea, abdominal cramping, fever, and bloody stools should be reported to health care professional promptly as a sign of pseudomembranous colitis. May begin up to several weeks following cessation of therapy.
- Assess for rash periodically during therapy. May cause Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Discontinue therapy if severe or if accompanied with fever, general malaise, fatigue, muscle or joint aches, blisters, oral lesions, conjunctivitis, hepatitis and/or eosinophilia.
- Lab Test Considerations: May cause ↑ serum AST and ALT levels.
- Monitor prothrombin time closely in patients receiving gemifloxacin and warfarin. Other fluoroquinolones have been reported to enhance the anticoagulant effects of warfarin.
Potential Nursing Diagnoses
Risk for infection (Indications)Implementation
- Oral: May be taken with a full glass of liquid, without regard to meals. Tablet should be swallowed whole; do not crush, break, or chew. Products or foods containing calcium, magnesium, aluminum, iron, or zinc should not be ingested for 4 hr before and 2 hr after administration. Gemifloxacin should be taken at least 2 hr before sucralfate.
Patient/Family Teaching
- Instruct patient to take medication as directed and to finish drug completely, even if feeling better. Take missed doses as soon as remembered, unless almost time for next dose. Do not double doses or take more than 1 dose/day. Advise patient that sharing of this medication may be dangerous. Caution patients that gemifloxacin should only be used to treat bacterial infections; it is not effective against viral infections, such as the common cold.
- Encourage patient to maintain a fluid intake of at least 1500–2000 mL/day to prevent crystalluria.
- Advise patient that antacids or medications containing calcium, magnesium, aluminum, iron, or zinc will decrease absorption and should not be taken within 4 hr before or 2 hr after gemifloxacin.
- May cause dizziness. Caution patient to avoid driving or other activities requiring alertness until response to medication is known.
- Advise patient to notify health care professional of any personal or family history of QTc prolongation or proarrhythmic conditions such as recent hypokalemia, significant bradycardia, or recent myocardial ischemia or if fainting spells or palpitations occur. Patients with this history should not receive gemifloxacin.
- Caution patient to use sunscreen and protective clothing to prevent photosensitivity reactions during and for 5 days after therapy. Notify health care professional if a sunburn-like reaction or skin eruption occurs.
- Advise patient to notify health care professional if signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy (pain, burning, tingling, numbness, weakness, other alterations in sensations of light touch, pain, temperature, position sense, and vibratory sensation). May require discontinuation of therapy; may be irreversible.
- Advise patient to report signs of superinfection (furry overgrowth on the tongue, vaginal itching or discharge, loose or foul-smelling stools).
- Advise patient to notify health care professional of all Rx or OTC medications, vitamins, or herbal products being taken and to consult with health care professional before taking other medications.
- Instruct patient to notify health care professional if fever and diarrhea develop, especially if stool contains blood, pus, or mucus. Advise patient not to treat diarrhea without consulting health care professional.
- Instruct patient to notify health care professional immediately if rash, jaundice, signs of hypersensitivity, or tendon (shoulder, hand, Achilles, and other) pain, swelling, or inflammation occur. If tendon symptoms occur, avoid exercise and use of the affected area. Increased risk in >65 yrs old, kidney, heart and lung transplant recipients, and patients taking corticosteroids concurrently. Therapy should be discontinued.
Evaluation/Desired Outcomes
- Resolution of the signs and symptoms of bacterial infection. Time for complete resolution depends on organism and site of infection.
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