Title: Association between tendon ruptures and use of fluoroquinolones<br/>Author: Brian Corwell<br/><a href='http://umem.org/profiles/faculty/294/'>[Click to email author]</a><hr/><p>
A recent retrospective observational study looked at the association of oral antibiotics (primarily fluroquinolones) and tendon rupture.</p>
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Outcome data is very interesting for our practice, deviates from traditional teaching.</p>
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<strong>Population</strong>: 1 million Medicare fee for service beneficiaries from 2007-2016 (>65 years old)</p>
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<strong>Antibiotics queried</strong>: Seven total oral antibiotics of mixed class:</p>
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Fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin)</li>
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Other: Amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, azithromycin and cephalexin.</li>
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<strong>Outcome measures</strong>: all combined tendon ruptures and 3 by anatomic site (Achilles, rotator cuff {RC} and other)</p>
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<strong>Results</strong>: Of the 3 quinolones, only LEVOfloxacin showed a significant increase in risk of tendon rupture (16% for RC) and (120% for Achilles) in a 1 month window. The others did not show an increased risk</p>
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Among the other antibiotics, cephalexin showed an increase risk across all anatomic sites.</p>
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The authors note that the risk with levofloxacin never exceeded the risk of cephalexin in any comparison!</p>
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<fieldset><legend>References</legend>
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<span style="color: rgb(48, 48, 48); font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Baik S, Lau J, Huser V, McDonald CJ. Association between tendon ruptures and use of fluoroquinolone, and other oral antibiotics: a 10-year retrospective study of 1 million US senior Medicare beneficiaries.</span></p>
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<i style="color: rgb(48, 48, 48); font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">BMJ Open</i><span style="color: rgb(48, 48, 48); font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">. 2020;10(12):e034844. Published 2020 Dec 21.</span></p>
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