Fluoroquinolones /quinolone antibiotic is any member of a large group of broad-spectrum bactericides that share a bicyclic core structure related to the compound 4-quinolone. They are used in human and veterinary medicine to treat bacterial infections, as well as in animal husbandry. Nearly all quinolone antibiotics in modern use are fluoroquinolones, which contain a fluorine atom in their chemical structure and are effective against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. One example is ciprofloxacin, one of the most widely used antibiotics worldwide.
Types of Fluoroquinolones /Quinolone
First generation
- flumequine
- oxolinic acid
- rosoxacin
Structurally related first-generation drugs, but formally not 4-quinolones, include cinoxacin, nalidixic acid, and piromidic acid, pipemidic acid
Second generation
The second-generation class is sometimes subdivided into “Class 1” and “Class 2”.
- ciprofloxacin
- fleroxacin
- lomefloxacin
- nadifloxacin
- norfloxacin
- ofloxacin
- pefloxacin
- rufloxacin
A structurally related second-generation drug, but formally not a 4-quinolone, is enoxacin
Third generation
Unlike the first and second generations, the third generation is active against streptococci.
- balofloxacin
- grepafloxacin
- levofloxacin
- pazufloxacin
- sparfloxacin
- temafloxacin
A structurally related third-generation drug, but formally not a 4-quinolone, is tosufloxacin
Fourth generation
Fourth-generation fluoroquinolones act at DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV. This dual action slows development of resistance.
- clinafloxacin
- gatifloxacin
- moxifloxacin
- sitafloxacin
- prulifloxacin
- besifloxacin
Two structurally related third generation drugs, but formally not 4-quinolones, are gemifloxacin and trovafloxacin
Types of Fluoroquinolones /Quinolone
1st generation |
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Fluoro- quinolones |
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Mechanism of Action of Fluoroquinolones /Quinolone
Indications of Fluoroquinolones /Quinolone
- Upper/Lower respiratory tract infection (respiratory, skin, soft tissue, UTI, ENT)
- Infectious diarrheas caused by E. coli, Campylobacter jejuni, and Shigella bacteria.
- Skin infections
- Lung or airway Infections, for example, TB (tuberculosis), pneumonic and septicemic plague due to Yersinia pestis (Y. pestis), lower respiratory tract infections, and chronic bronchitis)
- Bone and Joint Infections
- Anthrax patients with fever and low white blood cell counts, and intra-abdominal infections.
- Acute bacterial otitis media
- Skin and skin structure infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Uncomplicated gonorrhea
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Bacterial septicemia
- Intra-abdominal infections
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Meningitis
- Osteomyelitis
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Surgical prophylaxis
- Community-acquired pneumonia
- Acute otitis media
- Intra-abdominal infections
- Complicated urinary tract infections (including pyelonephritis)
- Infections of bones and joints
- Complicated skin and soft tissue infections
- Gonorrhea
- Syphilis
- Bacterial Endocarditis.
- Meningococcal Meningitis Prophylaxis
- Salmonella Enteric Fever
- Salmonella Gastroenteritis
- Community-acquired pneumonia
- Hospital-acquired pneumonia
- Acute otitis media
- Intra-abdominal infections
- Complicated urinary tract infections (including pyelonephritis)
- Infections of bones and joints
- Complicated skin and soft tissue infections
- For treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adults
- For treatment of disseminated Lyme borreliosis (early (stage II) and late (stage III)) in adults and children including neonates from 15 days of age.
|For Pre-operative prophylaxis of surgical site infections
Side Effects of Fluoroquinolones /Quinolone
Most common
- allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
- leukopenia/leukemia
- hemolytic anemia
- serum sickness
- agranulocytosis
- pain, swelling, irritation where injected
- stomach upset
- sweating
- skin color change, mild diarrhea
- mild nausea
- loss of appetite
- vaginal discharge and itching
- swelling of feet or legs
- chest pain
- constipation
- cough
- diarrhea or loose stools
- difficulty with breathing
- dizziness
- heartburn
References
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