Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026
11:15
Quadruple-Checkerboard: A Modification of the Three-Dimensional Checkerboard for Studying Drug Combinations
Published on: July 24, 2021
Avoiding fluoroquinolone resistance. Strategies for primary care practice
1Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Department of Pathology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, TN 37232-2561, USA. charles.stratton@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu
Postgraduate Medicine
|March 1, 1997
Summary
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics are vital for treating serious infections but face a growing threat from bacterial resistance. Judicious prescribing is essential to preserve their future therapeutic value.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Fluoroquinolones are effective antibiotics for severe infections.
- Increasing bacterial resistance to fluoroquinolones is a significant concern.
- Key resistant organisms include pseudomonads, staphylococci, and streptococci.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the threat of antimicrobial resistance to fluoroquinolone efficacy.
- To emphasize the importance of appropriate prescribing practices.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on fluoroquinolone resistance patterns.
- Analysis of documented cases of treatment failure due to resistance.
Main Results:
- Reports indicate rising resistance in common bacterial pathogens.
- The effectiveness of fluoroquinolones is being compromised by this resistance.
Conclusions:
- Judicious use of fluoroquinolones is critical to combat resistance.
- Preserving the therapeutic utility of fluoroquinolones requires careful antimicrobial stewardship.
Related Concept Videos
02:56Treatment Resistant Cancers
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
Essential infection prevention measures are based on the knowledge of the infection chain, the modes of transmission in healthcare settings, and the use of the best practices in all healthcare settings. Compulsory public reporting of healthcare-associated infection rates is needed to allow individuals and the community to make informed choices regarding selecting a healthcare facility.
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:30Urinary Tract Infection III: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
A healthcare provider can diagnose a urinary tract infection (UTI) through several methods:Medical History and Symptoms: The provider will take a detailed medical history and ask about symptoms such as frequent urination, burning sensation during urination, and lower abdominal pain.Urinalysis: A clean-catch urine sample is collected in a sterile container and tested for the presence of bacteria, white blood cells (leukocytes), nitrites, blood, and protein. The presence of leukocytes and...
01:25Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA
Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
01:28Inhibitors of Bacterial DNA Synthesis
Bacterial pathogens depend on precise and efficient DNA replication to sustain infection. Two type II topoisomerases—DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV—are critical to this process, as they resolve DNA supercoiling and unlink chromosomes during replication. Fluoroquinolones, synthetic derivatives of quinolones, exploit this mechanism by stabilizing the transient DNA–enzyme cleavage complex, preventing strand religation, and causing lethal double-strand breaks. These antibiotics are selectively...
01:25Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...