Newer fluoroquinolones (i.e., levofloxacin, sparfloxacin, trovafloxacin, and grepafloxacin) are broad-spectrum agents with enhanced activity against many Gram-negative and gram-positive organisms. (cdc.gov)
The third-generation fluoroquinolones (grepafloxacin, levofloxacin and sparfloxacin) have expanded coverage against streptococci and atypical organisms. (aafp.org)
As a class, the newer fluoroquinolones possess many characteristics that make them useful antimicrobial agents, including a broad spectrum of activity against Gram-negative and gram-positive organisms, good oral absorption and tissue penetration, relatively long serum elimination half-lives that allow once or twice daily dosing, predictable drug-drug interactions, and a relatively low incidence of serious side effects. (cdc.gov)
Antibiotics5
Nearly all quinolone antibiotics in use are fluoroquinolones, which contain a fluorine atom in their chemical structure and are effective against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. (wikipedia.org)
Fluoroquinolones can increase the rate of rare but serious tears in the aorta by 31% compared to other antibiotics. (wikipedia.org)
Safety Announcement [12-20-2018] A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review found that fluoroquinolone antibiotics can increase the occurrence of rare but serious events of ruptures or tears in the main artery of the body, called the aorta. (kpaddock.com)
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics are approved to treat certain bacterial infections and have been used for more than 30 years. (kpaddock.com)
Health care professionals should avoid prescribing fluoroquinolone antibiotics to patients who have an aortic aneurysm or are at risk for an aortic aneurysm, such as patients with peripheral atherosclerotic vascular diseases, hypertension, certain genetic conditions such as Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and elderly patients. (kpaddock.com)
Resistance4
What causes different levels of fluoroquinolone resistance? (cdc.gov)
Point mutation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis gyrB resulting in fluoroquinolone resistance. (mcmaster.ca)
2012. PLoS ONE 7(6):e39754 New insights into fluoroquinolone resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis: functional genetic analysis of gyrA and gyrB mutations. (mcmaster.ca)
Prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis gyrB mutant conferring resistance to fluoroquinolones among the sequenced genomes, plasmids, and whole-genome shotgun assemblies available at NCBI or IslandViewer for 381 important pathogens (see methodological details and complete list of analyzed pathogens ). (mcmaster.ca)
Osteomyelitis1
Due to people with sickle-cell disease being at increased risk for developing osteomyelitis from the Salmonella, fluoroquinolones are the "drugs of choice" due to their ability to enter bone tissue without chelating it, as tetracyclines are known to do. (wikipedia.org)
Systemic3
In 2016, the FDA found that systemic use (by mouth or injection) of fluoroquinolones was associated with "disabling and potentially permanent serious side effects" involving the tendons, muscles, joints, nerves, and central nervous system, concluding that these side effects generally outweigh the benefits for people with acute sinusitis, acute bronchitis, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections when other treatment options are available. (wikipedia.org)
Without treatment, some infections can spread and lead to serious health problems (see List of Currently Available FDA-Approved Systemic Fluoroquinolones). (kpaddock.com)
Antibiotic1
Meta-analyses conclude that fluoroquinolones pose little or no additional risk to children compared to other antibiotic classes. (wikipedia.org)
Bacterial2
However, for serious acute cases of pyelonephritis or bacterial prostatitis where the person may need to be hospitalised, fluoroquinolones are recommended as first-line therapy. (wikipedia.org)
In summary, this generation of fluoroquinolones is useful in treating patients with the following conditions: (1) community-acquired pneumonia and bacterial exacerbations of acute bronchitis, (2) urinary tract infections and (3) skin or skin-structure infections. (aafp.org)
Infections1
Fluoroquinolones are often used for genitourinary infections and are widely used in the treatment of hospital-acquired infections associated with urinary catheters. (wikipedia.org)
Resistant1
Fluoroquinolone use in children may be appropriate when the infection is caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria, or when alternative treatment options require parenteral administration and oral therapy is preferred. (wikipedia.org)
Adverse2
In most countries, fluoroquinolones are approved for use in children only under narrowly defined circumstances, owing in part to the observation of high rates of musculoskeletal adverse events in fluoroquinolone-treated juvenile animals. (wikipedia.org)
Other adverse effects of fourth-generation fluoroquinolones include gastrointestinal disturbance and phototoxicity. (aafp.org)
Widely1
After oral and parenteral administration, fluoroquinolones are widely distributed in most extracellular and intracellular fluids and are concentrated in the prostate, lungs, and bile. (msdmanuals.com)
Stop fluoroquinolone treatment immediately if a patient reports side effects suggestive of aortic aneurysm or dissection. (kpaddock.com)
Be aware that symptoms of an aortic aneurysm often do not show up until the aneurysm becomes large or bursts, so report any unusual side effects from taking fluoroquinolones to your health care professional immediately. (kpaddock.com)
Patients3
This attribute has improved the usefulness of fluoroquinolones in treating patients with community-acquired pneumonia. (aafp.org)
Fluoroquinolones should not be used in patients at increased risk unless there are no other treatment options available. (kpaddock.com)
In 2008, the U.S. FDA added black box warnings on all fluoroquinolones, advising of the increased risk of tendon damage. (wikipedia.org)
We are requiring that a new warning about this risk be added to the prescribing information and patient Medication Guide for all fluoroquinolones. (kpaddock.com)