The rationale of this work is to develop new bioactive thermoresponsive polyblend nanofiber formulations for wound healing (topical). Various polymer compositions of thermoresponsive, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), egg albumen and poly(ε-caprolactone) blend solutions with and without a drug [gatifloxacin hydrochloride, Gati] were prepared. Non-woven nanofibers of various compositions were fabricated using an electrospinning technique. The morphology of the nanofibers was analyzed by an environmental scanning electron microscope. The morphology was influenced by the concentration of polymer, drug, and polymer blend composition. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed the shift in bands due to hydrogen ion interactions between polymers and drug. Thermogram of PNIPAM/PCL/EA with Gati recorded a shift in lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and glass transition temperature (Tg) of PNIPAM. Similarly Tg and melting temperature (Tm) of PCL were shifted. X-ray diffraction patterns recorded a decrease in the crystalline state of PCL nanofibers and transformed crystalline drug to an amorphous state. In vitro release study of nanofibers with Gati showed initial rapid release up to 10h, followed by slow and controlled release for 696h (29days). Nanofiber mats with Gati exhibited antibacterial properties to Staphylococcus aureus, supported suitable controlled drug release with in vitro cell viability and in vivo wound healing.

Skin and skin structure infections (SSSI) are an emerging issue in healthcare. They are responsible for increasing heathcare utilization, both in hospitalizations and intravenous antibiotic use. SSSI are caused by an evolving variety of pathogens, including Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and anaerobic bacteria. In combination with mounting resistance patterns, this diverse range of bacteria mandate empiric broad-spectrum antibiotic coverage. Historically, cephalosporins and penicillins have been the mainstay of treatment, but recent data suggest newer generation fluoroquinolones are being used with increasing frequency. In 2005, moxifloxacin joined gatifloxacin and levofloxacin as newer generation fluoroquionolones with Food and Drug Administration indications for SSSIs. Even within this group there exist subtle differences that impact optimal management. This paper offers the clinician a comparative review of the antimicrobial spectrum, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and clinical efficacy data to support the appropriate use of fluoroquinolones in SSSIs.

New, simple and cost effective UV-spectrophotometric methods were developed for the estimation of gatifloxacin in bulk and pharmaceutical formulations. Gatifloxacin was estimated at 286 nm in 100 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) and 292 nm in 100 mM hydrochloric acid (pH 1.2). Linearity range was found to be 1-18 mug ml(-1) (regression equation: absorbance=0.0684 x Concentration in microg ml(-1) + 0.0050; r2 = 0.9998) in the phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) and 1-14 microg ml(-1) (regression equation: absorbance = 0.0864 x Concentration in microg ml(-1) + 0.0027; r2 = 0.9999) in hydrochloric acid medium (pH 1.2). The apparent molar absorptivity was found to be 2.62 x 10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1) in the phosphate buffer and 3.25 x 10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1) in hydrochloric acid media. In both the proposed methods sandell's sensitivity was found to be about 0.01 microg cm(-2)/0.001A. These methods were tested and validated for various parameters according to ICH guidelines and USP. The quantitation limits were found to be 0.312 and 0.3 microg ml(-1) in the phosphate buffer and hydrochloric acid medium, respectively. The proposed methods were successfully applied for the determination of gatifloxacin in pharmaceutical formulations (tablets, injection and ophthalmic solution). The results demonstrated that the procedure is accurate, precise and reproducible (relative standard deviation <2%), while being simple, cheap and less time consuming and can be suitably applied for the estimation of gatifloxacin in different dosage forms and dissolution studies.

Gatifloxacin (Tequin) is an 8-methoxy fluoroquinolone approved in the US for use in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB), acute sinusitis, uncomplicated and complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs), pyelonephritis, gonorrhoea and uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections. Gatifloxacin has a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity in vitro and good clinical and bacteriological efficacy in patients with indicated infections following once-daily administration by the intravenous or oral routes. It is generally well tolerated; the most common adverse events are associated with the gastrointestinal tract and CNS. Recent approvals for the use of gatifloxacin in the treatment of CAP due to multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (MDRSP) and in uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections extend the role of this drug in the treatment of bacterial infections in the US.

Antibiotics represent a relatively high drug cost component for the average institution. There are numerous antibiotic agents available for many indications so the choice of agents for which to provide coverage becomes complicated. The two fluoroquinolones levofloxacin (Levaquin, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals Inc.) and gatifloxacin (Tequin, Bristol-Myers Squibb) are similar in many respects yet have enough differences to allow for debate in preferring one over the other. However, overuse of these antibiotics is leading to a growing concern of bacterial resistance. This review discusses the factors that formulary decision makers consider when contemplating coverage of these drugs and explores where population-specific information would benefit this process. Both clinical and economic issues are raised in this review.

Gatifloxacin (Bristol-Myers Squibb) and moxifloxacin (Bayer) are new methoxyfluoroquinolones with broad-spectrum activity against aerobic and anaerobic pathogens of the respiratory tract. In this investigation, we analyzed the bactericidal activity in serum over time of these antimicrobials against three aerobic (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Staphylococcus aureus) and four anaerobic (Peptostreptococcus micros, Peptostreptococcus magnus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Prevotella melaninogenica) bacteria associated with respiratory tract infections. Serum samples were obtained from 11 healthy male subjects following a single 400-mg oral dose of gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin. These samples were collected prior to and at 2, 6, 12, and 24 h after the dose of each drug. Gatifloxacin exhibited bactericidal activity for a median of 12 h against Streptococcus pneumoniae (MIC = 0.5 micro g/ml), Peptostreptococcus micros (MIC = 0.25 micro g/ml), and F. nucleatum (MIC = 0.5 micro g/ml) and 24 h against H. influenzae (MIC = 0.03 micro g/ml), Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 0.125 micro g/ml), Peptostreptococcus magnus (MIC = 0.125 micro g/ml), and Prevotella melaninogenica (MIC = 0.5 micro g/ml). Moxifloxacin exhibited bactericidal activity for a median of 24 h against Streptococcus pneumoniae (MIC = 0.125 micro g/ml), H. influenzae (MIC = 0.015 micro g/ml), Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 0.06 micro g/ml), F. nucleatum (MIC = 0.5 micro g/ml), Prevotella melaninogenica (MIC =0.5 micro g/ml), Peptostreptococcus magnus (MIC = 0.125 micro g/ml), and Peptostreptococcus micros (MIC = 0.25 micro g/ml). The results from this pharmacodynamic study suggest that these fluoroquinolones would have prolonged killing activity against these organisms in vivo and may have clinical utility in the treatment of mixed aerobic-anaerobic respiratory tract infections.