Fluoroquinolone Antimicrobial Agents

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Abstract
THE introduction of fluoroquinolone antimicrobial agents (Fig. 1) into clinical use is an important recent advance.1-3 These drugs, also called quinolones, include norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, enoxacin, and pefloxacin. Of these, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin have been approved for use in the United States. Quinolones are orally absorbed, are potent in vitro against a broad spectrum of bacterial species, and have favorable pharmacokinetic properties. We shall evaluate here the current status of the quinolones, considering mechanisms of action and resistance, activity in vitro, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, adverse effects, and clinical uses. A discussion of the structure-activity relations of the quinolones . . .