New fluoroquinolone antibiotics

In 1993, we reviewed three fluoroquinolone antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and ofloxacin). Since then, four more fluoroquinolones have been awarded marketing authorisations. Here we review the clinical evidence and discuss the place of two of these drugs, grepafloxacin (Raxar-GlaxoWellcome) and levofloxacin (Tavanic-Hoechst Marion Roussel). Sparfloxacin and trovafloxacin are not considered, as they are not yet commercially available.