Quinolones

Chapter

Abstract

Nalidixic acid was the first quinolone introduced in 1962. Structural changes have resulted in an extended spectrum and better pharmacokinetics profile. All agents have an N-1-substituted 1,4-dihydro-4-oxopyridine-3-carboxylic acid as the basic nucleus. The fluorinated 4-quinolones, such as ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and levofloxacin are effective for treatment of a wide variety of infectious diseases. Potentially life threatening and rare side effects detected by postmarketing surveillance resulted in the withdrawal of gatifloxacin (hypoglycemia), trovafloxacin (hepatotoxicity), sparfloxacin (QTc prolongation, phototoxicity), temafloxacin (hemolytic anemia), grepafloxacin (cardiotoxicity), and clinafloxacin (phototoxicity) from the US market. Commercially available fluorinated quinolones available in the USA are widely used by clinicians (Fig. 12.1).

Keywords

Cystic Fibrosis Hemolytic Anemia Nalidixic Acid Basic Nucleus Extended Spectrum 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Further Reading

  1. Leibovitz, E. (2006). The use of fluoroquinolones in children. Curr Opin Pediatr, 18(1), 64–70.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  2. O’Donnell, J. A., & Gelone, S. P. (2000). Fluoroquinolones. Infect Dis Clin North Am, 14(2), 489–513, xi.Google Scholar
  3. O’Donnell, J. A., & Gelone, S. P. (2004). The newer fluoroquinolones. Infect Dis Clin North Am, 18(3), 691–716, x.Google Scholar
  4. Walker, R. C. (1999). The fluoroquinolones. Mayo Clin Proc, 74(10), 1030–1037.PubMedGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of MedicineUniversity of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterUSA
  2. 2.UMass Memorial Health Care Clinical Professor of MedicineUniversity of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterUSA

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