Quinolone

| Main Article
| Discussion
| Related Articles  [?]
| Bibliography  [?]
| External Links  [?]
| Citable Version  [?]

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

[edit intro]

## Contents

* 1 Mode of action
* 2 Classes
* 2.1 Non-fluorinated
* 2.2 Fluoroquinolones
* 3 Interactions
* 4 Side effects
* 5 References

In medicine, quinolones are antibiotics that are "a group of derivatives of naphthyridine carboxylic acid, quinoline carboxylic acid, or nalidixic acid."[1] Nadixilic acid's effects are localized to the urinary tract, but it was the first quinolone in general use. The subsequent quinolones, with broader spectra, were fluorinated and are often called fluoroquinolones.[2]

* Cinoxacin
* Ciprofloxacin
* Enoxacin
* Gatifloxacin (respiratory quinolone)
* Gemifloxacin
* Grepafloxacin
* Levofloxacin (respiratory quinolone)

* Lomefloxacin
* Moxifloxacin (respiratory quinolone
* Norfloxacin
* Ofloxacin
* Pefloxacin
* Sparfloxacin
* Trovafloxacin

(CC) Image: David E. Volk
Ciprofloxacin, a simple fluoroquinolone

|
|

## Mode of action[edit]

The mechanism of action for quinolones is different from that of macrolides, beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, or tetracyclines, so organisisms resistant to those classes of antibiotic drugs may be susceptible to quinolones. In particular, the quinolones interfere with topoisomerase enzymes, including topoisomerase II (DNA gyrase) and topoisomerase IV, which are vital to bacterial DNA replication, transcription, repair and recombination.

## Classes[edit]

### Non-fluorinated[edit]

Nadixilic acid has no action beyond the urinary tract; it is not absorbed systemically.

### Fluoroquinolones[edit]

The first, unspecialized systemic quinolones included ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and norfloxacin. Of these, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin have enhanced activity against Pseudomonas.

'Respiratory quinolones' are levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, or moxifloxacin. However, gatifloxacin can cause dysglycemia.[3]

Enrofloxacin is marketed for veterinary use as Baytril.

## Interactions[edit]

The group may compete with other drugs that are normally metabolized by the CYP P-450-1A2 pathway, thus increasing their blood levels. These include anticoagulants and theophylline.

They can also decrease the blood levels, by less well-defined pathways, of anticonvulsants.

## Side effects[edit]

Because the use of fluoroquinolones may lead to tendinitis or tendon rupture, especially in the Achilles tendon, the FDA requires a "black box" warning for these medications. The cause of the tendon damage is not yet determined.

## References[edit]

1. ↑ Anonymous (2024), Quinolone (English). Medical Subject Headings. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
2. ↑ Hardman JG, Limberd LE, Molinoff PB, Ruddon RW, Alfred Goodman Gilman, ed. (1996), Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics (Ninth ed.), McGraw-Hill, pp. 1065-1068
3. ↑ Park-Wyllie LY, Juurlink DN, Kopp A, Shah BR, Stukel TA, Stumpo C et al. (2006). "Outpatient gatifloxacin therapy and dysglycemia in older adults.". N Engl J Med 354 (13): 1352-61. DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa055191. PMID 16510739. Research Blogging.