Assimon MM, Pun PH, Al-Khatib SM, et al. - Among patients with hemodialysis-dependent kidney failure, those treated with respiratory fluoroquinolones had a higher short-term risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) vs those who received amoxicillin-based antibiotic treatment.

• A retrospective cohort study with 264,968 patients undergoing in-center hemodialysis, to determine if respiratory fluoroquinolones are associated with a higher risk of sudden cardiac death than amoxicillin-based antibiotics.

• A higher relative and absolute 5-day risk of SCD was observed with respiratory fluoroquinolone vs amoxicillin-based antibiotic treatment (weighted hazard ratio, 1.95; weighted risk difference per 100 000 treatment episodes, 44.0).

• Respiratory fluoroquinolones compared with amoxicillin-based antibiotics were not related to the 5-day risk of fracture.