found overall reductions in diarrhea duration
compared with placebo and evidence from these studies
showed no serious harm associated with fl uoroquinolone use;
however, the literature on the use of fl ouroquinolones in all settings
has demonstrated risks of development of Clostridium
diffi cile infection and risks for tendonopathies and arthropathies
( 132 ). For all antibiotics, either single-dose therapy or treatment
for up to 3 days is usually sufficient to allow resolution of symptoms.
Studies show that once daily therapy is as effective as 3-day
therapies for TD due to noninvasive pathogens, which comprise
the majority of cases ( 120,121 ). A 3-day therapy is recommended
for patients presenting with fever or dysentery. Enteric infection
by Shigella dysenteriae appears to be an exception, insofar as 5 days