Efficacy of the latest fluoroquinolones against experimental Yersinia pestis

The efficacies of prophylactic and therapeutic gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin were assessed in a BALB/c mouse model of systemic and pneumonic plague and compared with ciprofloxacin. Mice were given 100 mg/kg of the antibiotic by oral administration twice daily for 7 days starting 1h prior to infection or following infection. All antibiotics offered full protection for up to 6h following systemic challenge, and for up to 30 h following an aerosol challenge. The efficacy of each of the antibiotics decreased when antibiotics were started 18 h following systemic challenge and 48 h following aerosol challenge. Fluoroquinolones may therefore be considered useful candidates for the treatment of bubonic and pneumonic plague.