Review of the quinolone family

Abstract

Quinolones are a class of potent, broad-spectrum synthetic agents with good bioavailability, oral and intravenous formulations, high serum and tissue levels, and a generally low incidence of side effects. Such desirable properties led to increasing use, which has been predictably followed by increasing quinolone resistance, abetted by the emergence of several mechanisms of plasmid-mediated resistance. Initially employed mainly in the treatment of urinary tract infections, newer fluoroquinolones have sufficient activity for treatment of systemic gram-negative infections and treatment of gram-positive infections of the respiratory tract as well. Other indications include treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, gastrointestinal and abdominal infections, bone and joint infections, and skin and soft-tissue infections.