Fluoroquinolones

[Merna]

Fluoroquinolones are a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics that are used to treat a variety of infections.
Fluoroquinolones include the following:

Ciprofloxacin
Delafloxacin
Gemifloxacin
Levofloxacin
Moxifloxacin
Norfloxacin
Ofloxacin

Fluoroquinolones can be taken by mouth, and some can be given intravenously or as eye drops.
Fluoroquinolones work by interfering with DNA inside bacteria, resulting in death of the bacteria.
Doctors avoid using fluoroquinolones in people who are more likely to develop a serious abnormal heart rhythm (such as people who have a long QT interval or a very slow heart rate, who take drugs that cause a long QT interval or a very slow heart rate, or who have a low blood level of potassium or a low blood level of magnesium).
(See also Overview of Antibiotics.)