Mahyar Etminan, PharmD, MSc, on Heart Risk With Fluoroquinolones

A recent study highlighted a link between the use of fluoroquinolones, a commonly prescribed class of antibiotic, and the risk of aortic and mitral regurgitation. Consultant360 spoke with Mahyar Etminan, PharmD, MSc (Epidemiology), associate professor in the Departments of Ophthalmology and Medicine and Pharmacology at the University of British Columbia, and scientist at Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) about the study findings and what they mean for clinical practice. The study was funded by PHSA.

Consultant360: How did you decide on the topic of your research?

Mahyar Etminan: The FDA had put out a warning on aortic aneurysm risk with fluoroquinolones. Given that heart valves can also be damaged through a similar mechanism to the aorta and in the absence of large studies on this topic we decided to examine this question.

C360: What were the key findings of your research?

ME: We found that current and recent users of fluoroquinolones have a higher risk of developing regurgitation than two other commonly prescribed antibiotics: amoxicillin and azithromycin. The risk within current users (those using fluoroquinolones within 30 days) is ~2.5 times higher than amoxicillin users.

C360: How will the findings impact clinical practice and what is the takeaway for our audience?

ME: Fluoroquinolones should not be prescribed to patients with uncomplicated community acquired infections and to those with existing valvulopathy.

SEE ALSO: Some Things to Remember Before Prescribing Antibiotics

Vincent Pedre, MD, discusses alternatives to antibiotic therapy to avoid side effects related to antibiotic use and to limit the growth of antibiotic resistance.

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