Efficacy of enoxacin in the treatment of bacterial infections of the skin with regards to photosensitization.

Thirty-four patients suffering from various skin infections caused by gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens were treated with enoxacin (400 to 800 mg/day) for 8 to 14 days. A marked abatement of clinical symptoms, accompanied by eradication of the causative pathogens was observed in all 34 patients. Enoxacin was well tolerated. The minimal erythema dose of UVA light was reduced by a mean of 45% in three of the twenty patients receiving the 800 mg daily dosage of enoxacin. No positive reactions could be provoked in a subsequently applied photopatch test, allergic reactions were not observed. These mild reactions seen in a small percentage of patients appear to indicate further specific tests to determine a possible photosensitization effect of enoxacin.