Morphological response of mycoplasma to fleroxacin

Quinolones exhibit partially reduced activity in vitro against genital mycoplasma. Therefore, the morphological response to fleroxacin, a difluorinated quinolone, by Mycoplasma hominis was studied. Even at subinhibitory concentrations the ultrastructural investigations revealed distinct alterations such as cytolysis, vacuole and cell "ghost" formation. The typical dumbbell-shaped cells observed with monofluorinated compounds were not found, which may indicate a qualitatively different mode of action.