Quinolones remain the most important class of antimicrobial agents discovered in recent years - over 1000 have been synthesized and evaluated. Since the publication of the original edition, considerable strides have been made in the research on structure-activity relationships, mechanism of action, resistance, pharmacodynamics and drug interactions.
Introduction; Structure-Activity relationships; Mechanisms of quinolone action and bacterial killing; Quinolone-DNA interaction; Mechanisms of bacterial resistance to quinolones; Clinical resistance in clinical practice: occurrence and importance; Quinolones and eukaryotic topoisomerases; Activity in vitro of the quinolones; Pharmacokinetics and tissue concentrations in normal persons; Pharmacokinetics of fluoroquinolones in selected populations; Drug-drug interactions with fluoroquinolone antimicrobial agents; Pharmacodynamics of the fluoroquinolones; Treatment of urinry tract infections with quinolone antimicrobial agents; Role of quinolones in treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis; Use of quinolones in sexually transmitted diseases; Use of the quinolones for treatment and prophylaxis of bacterial gastrointestinal infections; Treatment of respiratory tract infections with quinolone antimicrobial agents; Treatment of infections of the ears, nose and throat, and nasal carriage; Use of quinolones for treatment of osteomyelitis and septic arthritis; Treatment of bacterial meningitis; Treatment of experimental and human bacterial endocarditis with quinolone antimicrobial agents; Treatment of skin and soft tissue infections with quinolone antimicrobial agents; Treatment of eye infections; Use of quinolone antimicrobial agents in immunocompromised patients; Veterinary use of quinolones; Adverse effects; Effects of quinolones on the central nervous system; Effetcs of quinolones on the immune system; Conclusions and summary