Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

Fluoroquinolones are a group of fluorinated derivatives of quinolone used as antibacterial drugs. They were first developed in 1984.

Fluoroquinolones work by interfering with bacterial DNA synthesis, which is a crucial step in bacterial reproduction. This mechanism makes them effective against a range of bacterial infections, including those of the respiratory and urinary tracts, skin, eyes, and bone and joints. Examples of fluoroquinolones include ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin.1

It is important to note that bacteria can develop resistance to antibiotics, including fluoroquinolones, which can make infections harder to treat.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. fluoroquinolone
  2. antibiotic

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.