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The future of fluoroquinolones

K Drlica

    Annals of Medicine
    |February 24, 2001
    PubMed

    Insights

    The mutant prevention concentration (MPC) indicates antibiotic potency. Some fluoroquinolones may prevent resistant mutant selection when used alone, extending antibiotic lifespan.

    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Pharmacology
    • Infectious Diseases

    Background:

    • The mutant prevention concentration (MPC) is a novel metric for antibiotic potency.
    • It defines the drug concentration threshold above which microbes require two simultaneous resistance mutations to grow.

    Discussion:

    • Some C-8-methoxy fluoroquinolone-pathogen combinations exhibit MPC values lower than achievable human serum concentrations with standard dosing.
    • This suggests a potential for these fluoroquinolones to significantly inhibit the emergence of resistant mutants during monotherapy.

    Key Insights:

    • Antibiotic compounds failing to meet the MPC-pharmacokinetic criterion risk enriching resistant mutants if used as monotherapy.
    • Strategic classification of fluoroquinolones for monotherapy versus combination therapy is crucial.

    Outlook:

    • Appropriate administration based on MPC-pharmacokinetic properties may prolong the clinical utility of fluoroquinolones.
    • Further clinical investigation is warranted to validate these findings.

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