Authors: De Souza, M.V.N.
Source: Mini – Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, v. 5, n.11, p. 1009-1018, 2005.Publisher: Bentham Science
Abstract
The discovery of antibiotics opened a new era in the treatment against several pathogenic microorganisms that can disable or kill humans. The appearance of the fluoroquinolones (based on nalidixic acid, 4-quinolone-3-carboxylates), in the early 1980’s, gave a new impetus in the treatment of infectious diseases. Despite these favourable properties, the earlier fluoroquinolones had limited potency against some clinically important organisms, especially Gram-positive pathogens so that the development of resistance to these organisms has become a serious problem. Thus the development of new fluoroquinolones with a better pharmacokinetic profile, potency, broad spectrum of activity, solubility, prolonged serum half-life and oral and parenteral routes of administration has been a major focus on recent research. The increasing interest in this class led me to review the promising new fluoroquinolones in clinical trials.Keywords: fluoroquinolones, fluorine, microbiological activity, antibioticsDocument Type: Review ArticleDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138955705774575246Publication date: 1 de Janeiro de 2005
