Quinolones and fluoroquinolones form a group of broad-spectrum antibiotics. They are derived from nalidixic acid.

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics are highly potent and considered relatively safe. However, they can have potentially troublesome side effects. For example, case reports have implicated their use in rare instances of tendon damage, especially when administered with a systemic corticosteroid.

Mechanism

Quinolones act by inhibiting the bacterial DNA gyrase enzyme. This way they inhibit nucleic acid synthesis and act bacteriocidically.

Examples

• Ciprofloxacin (Cipro®)
• Levofloxacin (Levaquin®)
• Norfloxacin (Noroxin®)
• Ofloxacin
• Moxifloxacin (Avelox®)
• Gemifloxicin (Factive®)

External links

• Fact Sheet: Quinolones
• Fluoroquinolone-Induced Tendinopathy: What do we know? Richard M. Harrell, MD.