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Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes

Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes

Published on: March 3, 2023

Quinolone resistance.

J C Brown¹, S G Amyes

¹Department of Medical Microbiology, Uiversity of Edinburgh Medical School, Edinburgh, UK.

Methods in Molecular Medicine

|March 11, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Quinolone antibacterials, starting with nalidixic acid, treat infections. Newer fluoroquinolones offer potent activity against resistant bacteria, including serious infections.

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Published on: March 2, 2020

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Pharmacology
Infectious Diseases

Background:

Quinolone antibacterial agents were introduced in the early 1960s, with nalidixic acid being the first clinically used.
Nalidixic acid was effective for enteric and urinary tract infections but faced declining use due to clinical resistance.
The emergence of resistance spurred the development of more potent fluoroquinolones.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the development and clinical significance of quinolone antibacterial agents.
To highlight the advantages of fluoroquinolones over earlier quinolones.
To underscore the broad-spectrum efficacy and favorable pharmacokinetic properties of fluoroquinolones.

Main Methods:

Historical review of quinolone antibacterial development.
Analysis of clinical applications and resistance patterns.
Comparison of activity and properties between nalidixic acid and fluoroquinolones.

Main Results:

Fluoroquinolones exhibit antimicrobial activity up to one thousand times greater than nalidixic acid.
Bacteria resistant to early quinolones remain susceptible to fluoroquinolones.
Fluoroquinolones like ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin are effective against a wide range of bacterial infections, from UTIs to septicemia.

Conclusions:

Fluoroquinolones represent a significant advancement in antibacterial therapy.
Their broad spectrum of activity, unique mechanism, and favorable pharmacokinetics contribute to their clinical success.
These agents are crucial for treating diverse bacterial infections globally.