5 Oct 2023 • In a large, nationwide population-based, observational study, there was no significant difference in the risk of hospitalization or in-hospital death due to aortic aneurysm (AA) or aortic dissection (AD) between outpatients who received a prescription for a fluoroquinolone (FQ) and those who received a prescription for a third-generation cephalosporin (3GC).

• A total of 954,308 patients (777,109 with FQ and 177,199 with 3GC use) were included.
• Researchers compared FQ usage to that of third-generation cephalosporin (3GC) antibiotics among adults aged 20 and older who had no prior history of AA or AD. -The study found no significant difference in the risk of AA/AD between the two antibiotic groups, suggesting that FQ use should not be discouraged when clinically indicated.

Furthermore, the study indicated a slight trend towards an increased risk of AA/AD during the 'at-risk' interval for 3GC recipients but not for FQ recipients. While this research provides reassurance regarding the safety of FQ antibiotics in relation to aortic risk, it does not address potential long-term or cumulative effects of FQ exposure or whether FQ use may pose higher risks for patients with pre-existing aortic conditions.

Source: American College of Cardiology | Read Full Story