L28 The Fluoroquinolones Flashcards
Why were the Fluoroquinolones (FQ) developed and what is good about them?
In response to growing resistance; broad spectrum, improved PK - excellent oral bioavailability, tissue penetration, long half-lives (but resistance has begun to develop)
What is the MOA of FQs?
Inhibition of DNA synthesis via inhibition of bacterial topoisomerases (DNA gyrase - gram-negative target, topoisomerase IV - gram-positive target)
FQs are ___-dependent and ___ (cidal/static).
Concentration; bactericidal
What is the major mechanism of resistance to FQs and three other minor mechanisms?
Major: altered target sites (mutations in genes that code for topoisomerases) leading to decreased binding affinity
Minor: active efflux, decreased porin expression, plasmid-mediated resistance
___-resistance occurs between FQs.
Cross
What are the important available FQs?
- Ciprofloxacin (both)
- Levofloxacin (both)
- Moxifloxacin (both)
- Gemifloxacin (oral)
Discuss the spectrum of activity of FQs broadly.
- Gram positive aerobes
- Gram negative aerobes
- Some anaerobes
- Atypical bacteria
What is the most important Gram positive bacteria FQs have activity against? Which of the FQs are best for this activity?
- Streptococcus pneumoniae (including PRSP)
Also: MSSA, strep viridans, Enterococcus
Levo and moxi
What is the most important Gram negative bacteria FQs have activity against? Which of the FQs are best for this activity?
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa (though significant resistance has emerged) - NOT MOXI, Cipro > Levo
Also: enterobacteriaceae, H. influenzae, M. catarrhalis, Neisseria spp.
Levo and cipro
Moxifloxacin (only) has some activity against which anaerobes?
Bacteroides species
Which atypical bacteria do (all) FQs have excellent activity against?
- Legionella pneumophila
- Chlamydophila and Chlamydia spp.
- Mycoplasma spp.
- Ureaplasma urealyticum
Discuss the absorption, distribution, and elimination of FQs.
- Good bioavailability after oral administration
- Distribution is extensive - lung, skin/soft tissue, bone, urinary tract and prostate (only cipro/levo), CSF (only moxi)
- Renal (levo, cipro), Hepatic (moxi)
What are the clinical uses for FQs?
- Upper respiratory tract infections (all)
- Community-acquired pneumonia (NOT cipro)
- Nosocomial pneumonia (cipro and levo)
- CF exacerbations (cipro)
- UTI, pyelonephritis, prostatitis (cipro, levo)
- Bone, intra-abdominal (w/metronidazole), STDs, TB (levo, moxi)
What are the most important adverse effects of FQs?
- Cardiac: prolongation of QTC interval -> Torsades
- Articular cartilage damage (contraindication in children, pregnant/breastfeeding women)
Also: GI (C. diff. colitis), CNS, hepatotoxicity, phototoxicity, tendonitis, hypersensitivity, rash
What are the important drug interactions of FQs?
- All oral FQs interact with divalent and trivalent cations, which impair absorption and lead to clinical failure
- Warfarin (all)
- Theophyllin and Cyclosporine (cipro)