The Incidence of Clostridium difficile--Associated and Non--C. difficile--Associated Diarrhea after Use of Gatifloxacin and Levofloxacin in an Acute-Care Facility

Abstract

Sir—We read with great interest the recent report by Gaynes et al. [1]. We would like to share a similar but somewhat different observation from our hospital. Levofloxacin was the quinolone of choice in our hospital formulary until July 2001, when gatifloxacin was introduced. We have observed an increase in the incidence of diarrhea and in the number of requests for Clostridium difficile toxin assays after gatifloxacin became the quinolone of choice. A study was initiated with the purpose of determining whether gatifloxacin was more likely to promote C. difficile—associated diarrhea (CDAD) than was levofloxacin. Here, we briefly summarize our findings.