Quinolone, << KWIHN uh lohn, >> is any of a group of synthetic drugs used to treat a variety of bacterial infections. Doctors prescribe quinolones to treat urinary tract infections; diarrhea; chronic bronchitis; pneumonia; ear infections, gonorrhea and certain other sexually transmitted diseases; and bone, joint, and skin infections.
The first quinolone, nalidixic acid, was produced in 1962. It was used to treat urinary tract infections. Since then, researchers have developed powerful quinolones that are effective against a broad range of bacterial infections. These drugs include ciprofloxacin, marketed under the brand name Cipro; levofloxacin, marketed as Levaquin; and moxifloxacin, marketed as Avelox. Each has a fluorine atom as part of its chemical structure. As a result, these newer drugs are called fluoroquinolones. All quinolones can be taken by mouth.
Quinolones rarely cause severe side effects. Some people who take the drugs develop minor discomforts, such as headaches, nausea, or dizziness. Laboratory tests suggest that quinolones may have harmful effects on developing bones and cartilage of young animals. For this reason, physicians usually do not give quinolones to pregnant or nursing women, or to children. In 2004, the United States Food and Drug Association (FDA) recommended warning labels about nerve damage associated with the use of quinolones.
Quinolones fight bacteria by interfering with production of the bacteria’s DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Quinolones disrupt the activity of DNA gyrase, an enzyme that helps duplicate DNA. If DNA gyrase fails to function properly, DNA cannot be duplicated and the bacteria therefore cannot multiply.
